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more thoughts of a mean!reader who play the big three (Homelander, Soldier Boy, and Bombsight ) like a damn fiddle.
+ Bombsight smut, and allusions to Soldier Boy smut
You , who were only recruited by Sage because "There needs to be a pretty face in the Seven."
You, who acts as exactly that, a pretty face and nothing more. You don't make any statements while everything happens, and eventually, it builds a lore about you. People like having someone to put their fantasies in, so you become that person.
You, who met Sage back in your uni days. Your powers were nothing worthy of being on the Seven, so why would Sage choose you? You have no idea.
You, who were chosen because Sage clearly remembers the day you slapped your boyfriend for saying something stupid (Accusing you of cheating, which you 100% were) and gaslit him so hard he came back within the hour with flowers and begging for your forgiveness.
You, who were chosen because Sage also recalls how at all times you always had three or more men on your roster because "if you have three, it assure you can never catch feelings for one"
You, who eventually get bored, just for the fun of it turn your sights to Homelander because you couldn't help just how easy he would be.
Homelander who never took any real notice of you other than the fact you were a pretty face, but Sage brought you on, so you had to have something. It made him suspicious of you.
Homelander, who began to understand your appeal when theories began to circle around you. He watched as people spun their own tales about you based off a few clips. One of you holding a baby, another of you back in your college days helping a girl, and the final one of you being surrounded by dogs from a pound.
Homelander, who began to pay more attention to you once you approached him. He was desired by many, but they didn't know him, you did. You were always there, so you knew him, if only a little.
Homelander, who started speaking more honestly with you around. You ignored everyone else in the Seven besides him and it's weak he knows, but he basks in that knowledge that you only pay attention to him.
Homelander, who thinks the best of you because you never mess up. (There's nothing to mess up) You never undermine him. You boost his public image whenever you appear beside him, so he stays beside you often. (Try as he might, he still needs validation)
Homelander, who preens at the little compliments you give him. Feels a shiver travel down his spine when you whisper a small "I'm proud of you."
Homelander, who grows confused when you start to pull away. Suddenly you're paying more attention to your phone than to him.
Homelander, who tries to act unaffected by the look you've just given him after trying to talk to you.
You, who a week back picked up what Sage put down. There were coordinates. Ever curious, you go, and you find someone delicious.
You who finds Bombsight and figure out who's better than him to add to your super roster.
Bombsight, who is adamant he's the one in control in this little tango between the two of you.
Bombsight, who says you're not getting a relationship out of him. All you say is "I'll change your mind."
Bombsight is sure you won't, until you both start doing things people would do in a relationship. You call him every night. You fall asleep on the phone with him. You call him baby, love, and all the other sweet names that come with being in a relationship.
Bombsight, who is beginning to enjoy the perks of having a relationship without ever being in one, and he is sure he's got you.
Bombsight knows he has you when you start telling him things like "I've never opened up to anyone like this before" and "I feel like I've known you forever."
You who's got Bombsight right where you want him, so you turn your attention back to Homelander. You've only gotten caught twice in your entire career of playing men. Once, it was a rookie mistake; he got hold of your phone. Second time? You didn't lay the groundwork well enough to be able to gaslight him into thinking you were never cheating.
You, who, at this point, have gotten so used to cheating, you don't even think it's taboo. It's a normal, and expected even, that you're bound to cheat. Your heart rate doesn't speed up because you know your little weirdo (Homelander) can hear it.
You who make sure none of your males ever align unless they're best friends who know how to keep their mouths shut and don't want to lose their friendship.
You who never keeps your phone out in the open for anyone to grab or take, and your cute pink iPad hidden somewhere no one would care to look.
You who makes sure all tangible proof can be misconstrued.
Homelander, who is starting to have withdrawals from your lack of affection. He's getting more snappy. Having more fantasies of lasering someone from the press in half.
Homelander, who, in his desperation and lack of you, lets his father, Soldier Boy, out of cryo, doesn't know he's just given you your third bitch on the roster.
You, who jumps for joy when you see Soldier Boy, and YOU KNOW it's free eats, because he screams that he's easy as hell.
Homelander, who would never assume you'd do anything with anyone else because you told him that if you ever caught him with someone else, you'd be quick to leave the Seven. Safe to say he dropped Firecracker pretty fast.
Homelander, who still gets worried when Soldier Boy goes sniffing around you, and you entertain it. But no! You'd never cheat on him, how could you when you said you'd leave him and everything else if you ever found out. He doesn't want you to leave.
Soldier Boy, who yearns to take you from his weird ass son when you tell him that he's forced you into this faux relationship, and your life and family are on the line.
Soldier Boy, who kisses you any time he can. Behind a door, in your room, in the room of the Seven when he knows Homelander is gone.
Soldier Boy, who relaxes because you give him everything he could ever want. You shower him in compliments that he doesn't think deep enough, because if he did, he'd realize they're all backhanded. But he's too busy coming to you for all the things Clara and Crimson Countess ever did for him.
Soldier Boy, who knows you chose him because you always tell him so. Over and over you whisper that it's him. That you think he's the one, that you've never been more sure about anyone other than him.
Soldier Boy, who think's stupid at first but then grows to crave your words.
Soldier Boy, who doesn't even realize you begin to just barely giving him anything, and yet he can't understand why he gets this rush of you giving him something he's not supposed to have. Maybe it's because his son is obsessed with you and had you first.
Soldier Boy, who says you want to leave it all and go off with him somewhere. He lets the idea warm him.
You, who can't help but smile at it all.
Bombsight, who still answers your call because he loves what you tell him. You call him, telling him you missed his voice. You text him, calling him your handsome boy.
You, who had mastered the art of â Love Bombingâ and have made sure to integrate yourself into Bombsight's routine.
You, who makes sure you're the first person he wakes up to, and the last voice he goes to sleep hearing, and always making sure to sprinkle in a good dose of telling him "Baby, I just think you're the one." All the while in the next room, Soldier Boy is fucking his hand because you left him all hot and bothered, not even five minutes before you called Bombsight.
Bombsight, who thinks you might be perfect for him with your little phrases that delight him when you tell him, "We're so alike it's scary because I feel the exact same way!"
Bombsight, who starts thinking about giving you the V1 to keep you around forever. You're already a supe; some V1 just makes sure you stay forever.
Bombsight, who starts imagining a life with you when you start using "us" and "our" consistently so much so he would think it abnormal for it to be any other way.
Bombsight, who takes everything you give him and keeps it close to his heart. You told him, "I'd never leave you," after he told you about Golden Geisha.
Bombsight, who mourned in your arms Goldie and you let him without ever telling him anything and he knows you'll stay.
You, who has to suppress a smile every time you see any of your hoes.
You, who starts to hang around more with Soldier Boy, but you never do anything with him. Never letting it go beyond kissing and heavy petting.
Homelander, who is starting to get insecure with how much time you spend with Soldier Boy, so he starts changing anything and everything about himself for any small comment you make. You told him you liked his blonde hair, and that warm feeling tingled down his spine. You then told him that his roots are showing. He's damn near in the hair salon every day, making sure his roots are never visible.
Soldier Boy, who starts to get annoyed when he has to deal with seeing more and more public outings of you and Homelander.
Soldier Boy, who hates seeing Homelander having his hand on some part of you at all times.
Soldier Boy, who has to hold himself back whenever Homelander presses a kiss to your temple and you make those pleading eyes to Soldier Boy to save you. He just hasn't figured out a way to do so yet.
Soldier Boy, that casually mentions kids as a way to distract you from his weird-ass son. He tells you he wants three kids, you agree, and say you'd want them to be raised in the country. He couldn't agree more.
Soldier Boy, who tells you he wants all boys, but you warm him up to the idea of having a couple of girls, and from then on can't stop thinking about having little girls who look just like you.
You, who all the while keeps Homelander with the facade that you're a virgin and he thrives off of that, seeing as the damn fool thinks he's god now, and now you fit perfectly in his little story.
You, who knows it won't be long till Soldier Boy breaks, and his only 'relationship' is gone. And you, for one, can't wait to see that day happen.
Homelander, who agrees to wait, never knowing his father has only just earned the right to eat you out and nothing more.
Soldier Boy, who is training himself to get off from just eating you out, because it's all you're giving him. But he can't bring himself to care all that much because no one else is getting you this way.
Bombsight, who laughs at both of them because he knows he's the one for you. (He's not) Why? Because he's the one that gets to fuck you.
Robbie is good at hiding. He's always been good at the sort of thing. So when he starts wanting you in more ways than one, he's also pretty good at hiding that.
Robbie can't have a relationship with you, but maybe something a little more than what you both have now âA situationship is what they call it nowadays no?
Maybe it wouldn't hurt. Shit, every time he sees you, cooking for him, waking up across the room from him, in his clothes, using his products to shower, his cock twitches and thickens in his pants. He can only just barely hide his need for you. Just barely, with teasing and making small comments that if you ever needed to, you can always sleep with him.
You took his offer. He was dead asleep when he felt you hugging him. Well after that, it wasn't long till Robbie was snapping his hips up into you with ferocity trying to hide the fact that he's bee lonely for so long.
And your sweet words in such a short time are getting him to rethink everything.
Sweet woman.
He's looking up at you as he sinks his cock into your soaked cunt as your straddling him. His mouth is agape as he looking at you as you give him shaky moans and needy whimpers from your pouty, swollen lips. Swollen because he's kissed you too hard. But you never seem to mind, every time he kisses you he feels your walls twitch around his cock.
He wants better lighting, he needs better lighting to see what he's sure is an ethereal sight of you above him.
Robbie thinks this is lust. This is just pure pure lustful sex, but fuck! You're just so good for him.
He's special to you. You can trust him. You've given yourself to him. Maybe he's an awful guy for taking advantage of you like this, but after all your sweet words of making him feel like he's the only one for you. Robbie just can't help himself.
Even now, he can't help himself because you're close enough that he can make out your starry eyes looking down on him all sweet and he knows that he's not gonna be able to let you go like he should.
"Please Robbie!" It's all you can manage to say. It sounds so good to him. Sounds so good the way his name sound rolls off your tongue and Robbie has to remind himself to not grip you too hard lest you break.
You told him you don't do this and yet you're on top of his whining that you wanna cum, and Robbie is thoroughly enjoying every single bit of it. Pleasure that only he can give you. âYeah? Go ahead. Fuck, donât let me stop you, pretty girl.â And the sight that follows, well, he can live in the moment for eternity. Your eyes squeeze shut before youâre creaming around his cock, his hands moving up your sides before cupping your face and pulling you into a sloppy, wet, bruising kiss.
Theres a bliss that blooms in Robbie whenever he feels your heartbeat race around him. It flushes every part of him when he can feel and hear your heartbeat, desperately trying to keep up. Even more so as he's kissing you, filling you up with his load while you moan and breathe your sighs across his lips in a tone he's sure his next wet dream will be about.
Robbie his holding on to you as he comes down from his orgasm and still lost in his hormone-drunken haze when he suddenly flips you and has you under him all the while he presses soft slow kisses over your face. He bathes in the sweet sounds of your whimpers at the over stimulation. He pulls back, looking down at you, and you have this dreamy look on his face that punches him in the gut when he recalls that he told you he can't ever be with you.
You give him a sweet smile and his cock twitches awake inside of your tight walls once more.
Maybe it doesn't sound like all that bad of an idea.
Soldier Boy, who tells you about the supe killing virus.
You, who starts to panic, because no one ever said your life would really be in danger. Males, you can handle. A virus? You're not so sure.
Soldier Boy, who comforts you by saying that both of you need to find Bombsight because he has the V1 and that it's the cure.
You, who gives a smile and a small laugh before agreeing. Your dumbass man, who says he's gonna work with Homelander to find it and then give it to you.
You, who knows you're gonna get in about a week, tops.
Bombsight, who can't get a clear reading on you. One moment you text him back within ten minutes, other times you don't respond after 10. But he knows you're online because you post on your social media. Small pictures every now and then.
Bombsight, who calls you out about not responding to him, but somehow always ends up taking the blame for you. "You said you didn't want a relationship, and I thought I was coming on too strong. I was giving you space."
Bombsight, who kicks himself over the fact that it is what he said, and it was stupid to say.
Bombsight, who panics when you start alluding to breaking up. He tells you that you told him you'd never leave him. So how could you!?
You, who only said, "But we're not together in a relationship, remember?" It took a week for him to come back begging for you.
Bombsight, who comes back with the V1, says he wants to spend eternity with you. He's on one knee, opening the box and giving it to you like it's a wedding ring.
You, who only look down at him as he looks up to you with such pleading eyes, it takes everything in you to not burst out laughing at him.
Bombsight, who stays still. You've given him heaven, and now you're giving him limbo.
You, who finally accepts and Bombsight gives you the V1.
Sage, who couldn't be happier with your work because it's only a matter of time before you grow bored and leave, or let them all know about one another.
You, who acts the pious one ever, tells Bombsight to go save Goldie, all the while Soldier Boy calls you to come get the V1 he'll take from Robbie before Homelander ever gets his hands on it.
Homelander, who will still take the V1, but before he does, he'll have his best workers make another one by reverse engineering the one he'll take and then give that second dose to you.
Homelander, who proposes to you, and you say yes, and so he's secured his virgin wife.
"Look, all we're after is the V1. You hand that over, we go home happy." MM spoke and Robbie looked over to him.
He looked back over to Goldie. Robbie is fast, but not fast enough to stop the bullet. "I can't."
"Robbie." Goldie called out and Robbie sighed.
"I can't because I don't have it. Haven't had it for weeks." He looked over to Goldie. "You said you weren't gonna change your mind. It took time for me to accept that, and I did."
"What the fuck do you mean you don't have it?" Butcher pressed the gun into her head.
Robbie is long over Goldie, but it doesn't mean he doesn't care about her. He wants her to have a good life. That's all. "Stop!"
"Where is the V?" Butcher asked once more.
"I already administered it to someone else." No point in hiding it. He just needs to save Goldie and then go back to you. That's it, that's all.
"Who?" Hughie stepped forward. It's not Homelander. That's a win, right?
Sage spoke your name, and Robbie's head snapped towards her. How would she know that? "She works fast. For weeks, you said? Soldier Boy must've told her, and what? You cracked within a week when she told you?"
"What are you talking about?"
"What are you talking about?"
Both MM and Robbie spoke. Sage only shrugged. "What? Back up for the back up. If this didn't work, then she would."
Was Robbie played? No. You wouldn't. Not after everything. You wouldn't.
"And that I did." You appeared behind Sage. MM jumped back, and Sage froze as your arms wrapped around her. Your head rested atop hers. "To be fair, I had no idea about the V1 until Soldier Boy told me about y'all's virus."
You smiled over to Robbie, offering him a smile. So then he wasn't played? Things just lined up. Yeah, that's what happened. That's what he decides happens. Before he can say anything more he's charged by Ben.
"Where's the V1 Robbie?" Ben hissed in his ear, and Robbie threw him off.
"Gone." Robbie knew you had to put on an act for Soldier Boy and Homelander, but he was different. He was your boy. You hadn't even bothered to tell Ben that you already had the V1.
Ben looked over to Goldie, who only looked at you.
You looked over to MM and muttered, "This is always my favorite part."
Robbie scoffed and walked over to you, calling your name. He held out his hand. You stood still. Ben called your name, asking what fuck this was.
You stood there trying to hold in your laughter, but looking at both of them, gosh, you just couldn't. You began laughing. "I'm sorry." Was all you could manage between small little laughs. Suddenly, life was filled with sunshine and rainbows. You lived for this shit. The look of realization they've both been cheated, or even better, when they don't care, and they still want you.
Now to find out which is which. Your primary concern was Soldier Boy, seeing as he could fry the V out of you. Bombsight was a hard hitter, and Homelander, you're sure is to be due any minute.
Your plan was simple: you could keep Robbie as a side piece; you had laid the groundwork for him for over a year. He was solid. Ben wasn't. You need Ben back in that box so that one day, when you get tired of all of this, you unfreeze him and, in anger, he fries the V out of you. Simple. Homelander, well, he had to go.
So your laughing turned into crying. Tears of joy, but not that they would know that.
"Hey! Hey, hey, hey!" Robbie ran up to you, wiping your tears whilst everyone watched, and Ben stood there trying to understand what the fuck was happening. How the fuck did you know Robbie? How did Robbie know you!? And why the fuck is he wiping your tears like he knows you!?
"I'm scared." You muttered wiping your tears.
"Of what?"
"Homelander." You looked behind Robbie and to Ben, whose brows were still furrowed in utter confusion.
"Why?" Robbie's hand tilted your gaze back to him.
Ben made a face.
"He said he wanted me to ascend with him. Something about being the virgin or something. He-"
"What the fuck?" Robbie looked down. Virgin where? He's been making love to you for the past year. You weren't a virgin then. Robbie knew you had to play it for the cameras, but to know you had to go this far. His heart ached seeing you cry. His poor girl.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Ben walked over to you, and you stepped away from Robbie. Was this another act? But why? For what? You wouldn't do this to him. Not after everything you've said. You wanted kids with him. So then what the fuck was this?
"He wants some kind of marriage and kids. I don't know!" Your lips trembled as you forced more tears out. Maybe they were real tears because holy fuck when Homelander told you about that, that was the fucking scariest shit you've ever heard in your entire life!
Robbie cupped your face, and Ben had just about had enough of this. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"And why the fuck would she-" You cut Soldier Boy off before things could turn on you.
"Because I thought I could handle it! I was wrong. I'm sorry, I just-"
Robbie shushed you before kissing your forehead. "It won't come to that. I swear it."
And with that, he flew off. Your eyes looked back at Ben. "Ben-"
"What the fuck was that!?"
You walked over to him, and before he could start cussing, you kissed him. You felt him tense before relaxing. You pulled back. "Ben, listen to me." He did. "I've been in the Seven for a while. I didn't even know who you were, but I knew I needed someone, anyone, who could protect me. That's all Bombsight is to me." Your hands cradled his face. "I love you, Ben. No one else. I meant every word I said. I do want children with you. I still want to leave, but I can't do that if Homelander is after us. I want our children to grow without any fear." You pulled his hand against your chest, your heart beat was fast. You always got a thrill out of these things. "Please, Ben."
He gave a sigh, and you pushed down a smile. He looked up towards the hole made by Bombsight and shook his head. He gave you one final kiss before running out.
You watched him with a smile and then "Pfft!" You turned around with a small laugh. "How was I?"
"Oscar worthy." Sage smiled and clapped.
"Right? Fuck I almost fumbled when I laughed." You shook your head. "Y'know, I wondered what it was you wanted with me, but I'm assuming it was this?"
"I knew you wouldn't be able to help yourself."
You only smiled and shrugged.
"Oi!"
You turned and caught the flask thrown at you. You smiled, giving a small cheer before drinking. You walked back over to him, handing him the flask. "I have you to thank." You bent down, looking at Goldie. "Had you not dumped Bombsight, this would've taken a whole lot longer." You smiled, going to put a hand on her lap. "So thank you for not choosing Robbie."
She created a force field, knocking you back. You rolled your eyes, standing up, dusting yourself off.
"You don't deserve him." She hissed out and only shrugged.
"Debatable. He's just a man, you know? All men are dogs, that includes golden retrievers like him." You pursed your lips, giving her a slow nod before laughing. You turned around, motioning to go. "I secured front row seats. I'd hate to see it go to waste."
You, who in the end got everything you wanted.
Homelander, who looked up to you, was heartbroken and angry when it was revealed that Soldier Boy had access to you in a way that you always denied him, and that Bombsight had been fucking you for a year, and you looked him in the face and lied like it was second nature.
Your face was the last thing he saw before Butcher ripped him in half.
Soldier Boy, who gasped for air as Bombsight choked him out, all the while you smiled as you waved goodbye.
Your face was the last thing he saw before he was put back into that damn box.
Bombsight, who still didn't get that you couldn't give two shits about him.
In the end, your face was constantly shoved down his throat as you went back and took over the Seven, reforming it, seeing as you had no prior offenses.
Still though. You laid down the groundwork for Bombsight exceptionally well, so even after everything, he still can't help but want you. And after all, you have all of eternity with him.
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Guess who's my favorite out of the three đ¤
How I imagine the boys seeing how reader was playing SB and BSđĽą
Also if the smut scene doesnât make sense, itâs cuz I stole it from another draft and I was too lazy to write another one đââď¸
Synopsis: You (an overpowered Supe who only sticks around for money) couldn't be bothered to give a single shit about Soldier Boy other than the fact that he was a good fuck. But things have been taking a turn with him expecting more from you, like emotional labor and being his therapist about Clara and Crimson Countess. Yuck!
Based on that one scene with season 1, Cassie and that one dude who wore an orange jumpsuit, whose name I can't be bothered to remember the name of, except that roles are reversed.
Notes: No happy ending (they don't have a happily ever after) In my continued hatred of mean Soldier Boy, I don't think anyone has written about someone giving it back to him. Mentioned derogatory terms or certain words used in a negative context
Man-hater/man-eater? Mean!reader x Soldier Boy
As Soldier Boy rolled off you and reached over to light a joint, you fought off that urge to fall asleep and cuddle. You know that'll only result in him talking your ear off about whatever it is he cares about.
Instead, you reached over and grabbed your phone, setting a five-minute timer.
Ever since Homelander pulled his father out of Cryo-freeze the both of you resumed what you both left when everyone thought he died. You included.
Ever since then, the both of you have been going at it. Homelander killed your last real lover. Figured it'd be best to go for his dad seeing as he's not someone he'd kill. But even if he did, it wouldn't matter to you. Not really.
It wouldn't matter seeing as every word out of Soldier Boy's mouth was like nails against a chalk board. You'd leave him, but the dick, unfortunately, is that good. But as the days pass, the more he loses his appeal.
Any comment about anything is like you're being thrown back into an era you're glad as fuck you weren't born into. You'd join in, but you're not a total loser so you're stuck smiling every now and then and setting alarms for excuses. Max of 10 minutes and then you dip. Something about leaving a lame excuse on the stove that you don't own.
Recently he's been talking more and more about some lady named Clara. Before it was Crimson Countess, now it's Clara? How many loves of his life did this dude have?
He's like 100, so maybe one for every 50 years?
You shuttered. A miserable thought entered your mind. He's got another 50 in front of him. What if you're next? Seeing as he confessed to killing Crimson Countess, and Clara is who knows where, you'd rather not end up like any of them.
In any case, you played the role of pretending to give a fuck perfectly. Now you've pulled up the sheets to cover yourself as you look up at him.
Fuck, what fucking face he had on him. He'd be so perfect if he just shut the fuck up. You laid there admiring his face as he smoked, enjoying the silence. He looked over to you and for a moment, it was just silence.
"What?" He turned away blowing the smoke.
"You're really pretty, you know that?" You murmured and he paused.
He looked back to you. It silent once more. He just looked at you. You looked at him. He shook his head. "I'm not a fucking woman."
You rolled your eyes and pushed yourself up. "You don't have to be a woman to be pretty." You straddled him and his free hand fell on your hip.
"What is this? Round five?" He went up to take another hit. You stopped him and angled his hand towards you. You took a hit from the joint his held all while he watched. You held it in for a moment before smiling and blowing out. He breathed in the smoke as you laughed.
You hand settled on his jaw brushing his facial hair. "I feel like if you shaved you'd go from pretty to beautiful." He made a face. You ignored it. "You sure you don't have any super old photos of you. Like when you were in your 20s?"
"Clara would."
You resisted the urge to roll your eyes. Him and fucking Clara. Who the fuck gives a fuck about her? You sure don't. "I'll have to ask her when I see her."
"You want a picture that bad, just fucking take one." He set down the joint before rubbing up and down your back.
You shook your head. "No, I want younger you."
"20-year-old me would love 40-year-old you." He squeezed your hips hard. He was getting mad over you wanting him younger. He knows you're not 40. Close. But not yet.
"Just like how I like century-year-old you." You were careful to avoid the word love. A cold day in hell it would be when you would love him.
"You like me?" He asked to look up at you.
You smiled, wondering how you were gonna sweet-talk your way out of this. Luckily, you were saved by the bell of the five-minute alarm you set. You said nothing and got off him and looked at your phone for a bit, just to sell it. Not like he would know the difference.
You let a small curse go before standing up telling him you were needed elsewhere.
"Why is it you always get called after we've fucked."
You paused as you slid into your hero suit. "Uh, because I have a life."
Soldier Boy made a face. You turned away from him as you zipped yourself up. He scoffed and took another hit. "Y'know back in my day-"
"Back in your day people used to bathe in pesticides and the kids turned out slow as fuck. I don't think you were an exception." You cut him off walking out with your shoes in your hand.
Back in his day, that would've earned you a good beating from your husband.
But Ben is damned; he likes you too much to ever hit you. Likes you so much he doesn't just want to be around you to fuck anymore. You listened. Added in somethings, but mostly just listened.
(Or so he thought)
It feels good to finally just say it all. You seem like the only sane one around. You're not a good person, he knows that, you know that. You focus on you, and you focus on him. (you really don't) Nothing more. You're strong enough to not let Homelander scare you, and you're self aware enough to understand you're a terrible person for not leaving this whole god charade sooner.
He likes that about you. Ben likes you.
It's why he, more and more these days it seems, goes to your room and just lies in there while you're watching movies. It's why he sits next to you during meetings. It's why both of you make jokes behind Homelander's back and then pretend you both said nothing.
You make him act like a man in his early 20s instead of being a century old.
After one long winded rant from his unfortunate son about being god, he's mouthing 'what the fuck?' to you and you only shrugged and twirled your finger near your temple.
The both of you held in your laugh as you shook your head. The both of you stilled when Homelander turned. He grilled you on what was so funny.
"Of course not, my lord." You made a face, pleading your case. "How could I possibly dare to make a fool of god himself?" Soldier Boy closed his eyes, trying to hold in his laughter, all the while you're barely suppressing a smile. "Now, excuse me, m'lord. I have to go."
And with that, you walk out. He followed soon after. "Why don't we go out to one of those fancy restaurants you like going to so much?" He only knows you like to go out to them because there's always paparazzi pictures of you and other 'influencers.'
You stopped and raised a brow. "Yeah, right. Like I'd ever be caught out on a date with you on my arm. You're a sneaky link. Besides, I've already agreed to only see you for work, sex, or in hell." And with that, you turned around and walked off.
"I never said it had to be a date doll." It was supposed to be a date.
You scoffed, never bothering to turn back. "Whatever floats your boat, sweet cheeks."
You were so unlike any woman from any other time he was alive to witness. You occupied his thoughts in a way that hadn't been done since he wanted revenge on Payback. Since Crimson Countess. Since Clara.
It was getting bad. So whenever he could, Soldier Boy fucked off to do who knows what. So now, he's here, gambling on horse racing.
"So this is what I have to thank for my peace?" You appeared behind him, and it took everything in Ben to not jump out of his seat. "Horse racing."
"What? D'ya miss me?" Ben hopes you did. He looked up as you walked around, taking a seat next to him.
"You wish." You leaned back, putting your feet up on the seats in front of you. "Someone misses their daddy."
"Who? You?"
You only gave him a look before turning back as the race was beginning. "Y'know this whole gambling thing isn't gonna work out for you." He turned to you, and you only smirked. "Your intuition's shit." You pointed at a horse that had the coloring of chestnut and a pink saddle. "That one. Watch."
"You sayin' I should go into poker?" The race began, and Soldier Boy kept his eyes on the horses.
You laughed. "Even worse." You watched as the horse he bet on fell behind and yours stayed in the front. "You're not a people person. You suck at reading a room."
"And what are you? An expert?" Soldier Boy kept his eyes on the race. Lo and behold, the horse your pointed at kept it's lead.
You stood up and looked down. "I'm an an expert in everything I do." And as if on cue the horse you pointed at crossed the finish line. "And between me and you? You're not exactly someone cut out to make fast money."
Ben crushed the ticket in his hand looking over to you as you went to open the door to the balcony. "And how would you know that?"
You looked over your shoulder. "Because I'm a people person." And with that, you floated up before flying off.
You disappeared for a couple of days. It was after he told you about the Supe killing virus. It was during one of your talks, well, more like his talk. He goes into your room, and you're doing something, he talks, and you listen. You nod. You smile. You offer one of those looks that scream that you want him to fuck you. Strangely enough, he just wants to talk to you.
He's not gay.
He loves fucking you. It's just that he loves talking to you more.
In any case, he told you about the supe killing virus, seeing as you're a new gen supe. He saw the way you paused and the way uncertainty and fear, it looked like, entered you.
(And you say he can't read a room)
To soothe your fears, he told you about V1. Something to keep you safe. He told you he'd go and get it and he'd give it to you. After that, you only gave him a kiss before leaving.
You only returned when he went to take the V1 from Robbie. It was easy enough to get it from him with you there.
"She doesn't love you, you know." Robbie panted, and Ben held the V1 in his hand.
"Shut up, Robbie."
It's a shame he didn't see the small smile on your lips. Instead, Ben kicked him off onto the other side of the field as he turned to you.
You looked at him. There was a moment of silence between the two of you. He extended the box to you. You almost felt bad.
Almost.
"Thank you, Ben." It was the first time you've ever used his name. It was needed. This was the first time you ever needed him. This was worthy of using his name. And with that, you took it, and suddenly, the only threat to your life was gone.
Except for then, things only got worse. It's like he expected more from you. Some sort of repayment for what he did to you. It was starting to piss you off. What was it that he didn't understand? You and he were only ever fucking.
You listen to him bitch and moan about whatever went wrong in his life, and then you fuck, and then afterwards he starts bitching and moaning again. But recently it's been all bitching and moaning with no fucking.
You don't say anything just because he's the only man who could actually pose a threat, seeing as he can burn out all the V in you. But him calling you to his room only to once more bitch about Homelander, and Clara and how maybe he should've given it to Homelander for Clara, it's when you finally snap.
Putting whoever the fuck Clara was over your life. Putting a son you know he only puts up with because he's just like his sniveling, pathetic boy. Desperate for a family. Apple doesn't fall too far from the tree.
In all honesty, you could give a fuck less about whatever weird family dynamic they have. So long as you're alive and rich, who gives a fuck about them?
For a second, you nearly regret taking the V seeing as you're gonna have to put with Soldier Boy for the rest of your life. And now with the V? That's a really long time.
You can't have yourself regretting that. You've made enough money over the years in the Seven. Suppose it's time you leave. But not before giving Soldier Boy something to really regret.
Giving you V1.
Well, that's only if he starts with his long-lost loves.
You smiled against his lips as you kissed him, your hand sliding down and resting over the bulge in his pants. His hands fondling your bottom all the while he nearly bucks into your touch. You look down, his cock straining visibly now against the fabric, a damp spot blooming at the tip.
You reached for his belt, unbuckling it deliberately slowly, the metal clink echoing in the quiet room save for one of his movies playing in the background.
He groaned as you tugged his pants open, freeing his thick cock from the confines. It was flushed, the head slick with precum that dripped in a slow bead down the side trailing the pathway of a vein that always made his cock look so pretty.
Slowly, you wrapped your hand around him. Your own cunt pulsed as you felt his dick throb against your palm.
He let out a string of curses as his hands grabbed the pillows around you both. And just as you were about to lose yourself he began with how much better you were than any other woman he's had and how Crimson Countess's hands were harsh and before he could continue you stood up.
"Oh my fuck, this is literally the like 20th time you've done this to me." You wiped your hands on the bed sheets before throwing them over his bottom half. It did nothing to hide him. "So if we're not gonna fuck, then what are we doing?"
Ben looked back up at you, and you back down at him. He said nothing, and you only raised a brow. "What? Do you think I'm here because I'm interested in you? Because I care about what you have to say, or what you think of things, because you're so fucking interesting?" You scoffed, shaking your head. "Fuck, are you dumb?"
Once more, Ben could only look at you in disbelief.
"You came onto me, remember? And ever since then, you show up, whine and moan about bitch 1 and bitch 2." You tilted your head at him as if trying to find out why he was in disbelief. To you, it was the most obvious thing. "At first, I could put up with it because I was getting something out of it. Now I don't even get that. Now all I get is this unwanted special about poor little Soldier Boy crying about his quote, long lost loves, one of which you killed by the way, and the other is god knows where."
Ben could feel his chest getting hotter the more you spoke.
"I mean, it's like every time you start talking, I think to myself, who the fuck does this dude think he is? You are so fucking boring!" You looked down, the small glow, and the heat. "Oh, what? You gonna fry me? You're not fast enough for that." You grabbed some water and threw it over him; that got him going, and you managed to jump out of the way as he let a beam of light out. You looked over to the wall. It was completely burned out.
All the while, Ben panted on the bed. The sheets burned away. You stood up and leaned on the bed, looking at him. "Look, I'm gonna be honest with you, because I don't think anyone else will." Ben looked over at you. You had that same face that you used to look at him with whenever he spoke of Clara or Crimson Countess. He thought it was sympathy. Now he can see it was always for mockery.
You were right.
He's not a people person.
"Anyone who says they're interested in you beyond just fucking you?" You gave him a small smile. Another small mocking smile, he thought, was sympathy. "Is full of shit, or has a real bad daddy issues, just like you."
He never told you about his dad, yet you knew. Ben never said a word.
His intuition was shit.
Yours was always spot on.
You turned around, ready to leave, but before you did, you paused and turned around. "Oh, and just a piece of advice, in good faith and as a thank you for the V1. You really ought to learn how to read people, cause this ain't the fifties anymore. I can fuck seventy, eighty, ninety, a hundred men and within the same year marry a man, and within the next, divorce him and take 50% of what he owns and land on my feet and be welcomed back into society like nothing ever happened." Your lips pursed as you looked at him. "What I'm trying to say is that, you're expendable and replaceable, act like it. And for the love of god, when you're fucking someone, don't bring up your ex's"
And with that, you were gone and Ben was left, burning with humiliation and rage.
But it was fine. With the V1 in you, he'd have the rest of eternity to hunt you down.
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I was rereading your HOTD x Modern!Reader story, (love it btw, keep up the amazing work!!) and i have to ask, does Aemond actually love reader, or does he just want to possess her?
Thank you pooks! I'm glad you like the story.
As for the question. Does Aemond love reader?
Hell nah đ¤Ł
Nah I'm jp. I don't know if I'm gonna be honest. I think right now it's more of a possession kind of love. Like how I love my AirPods, or maybe a little stronger. Like how I would love a pet (hence the pearl collar) It's yours. Idk about y'all, but I don't like it when other ppl get buddy buddy with my animals unless I know them. So ig he feels kinda like that.
Maybe over time that'll change, but rn I'd say the love is more like a pet. cuz reader isn't his equal. She's a servant. Something that belongs to him.
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Soldier Boy x Reader, Bombsight x Reader (minor/towards the end)
yall ever get that epiphany that of "Someone is writing fanfic for my mans for this show I'm watching?"
That was me three days ago. I've been on the boys since like 2024, but just now realized there's hoes writing for Soldier Boy AND Bombsight (Low-key want him more)
But everyone writes him (Soldier Boy) so mean đ and degrading in every smut or just like a regular story. Then they write me as reactive. Like no! A cool bitch like me is nonchalant and never lets a man know they've made me mad! Ain't no man worth the effort like. You make snide comments that hurt the soul. Not no yelling! Have some decorum. YOU'RE A PRETTY AND WHIMSICAL GIRL! ACT LIKE IT!
But anyways, like yeah, I get that's who Soldier Boy is, and all (TBH I only like the pretty face), but like I'm tender-hearted. Like, I can't get talked to like bc after a while. Imma cry. Imma act nonchalant, but it hurts đ
Why? BC IMMA GIRL!
And during the devil's tango? Calling me a whore? Hitting me!? Nah man. I can't do that.
So imma write one where he gets left bc realistically, that's what I'd do bc I'd never let a man talk to me like that. NEVER LET A MAN BITCH ME OUT LIKE THAT! TF? And low-key plus Bombsight....KKKKKK ANGST!
Oh, and a supe!reader bc yo girl can't handle being weak. Powers based on Sue Storm from the MCU.
Always and without fail, you knocked him out. You're looking over to him. Ben, as he's asked you to call him now. Ben's mouth slightly parted, eyes that are closed but don't seem fully closed, and he snores every now and then.
You could shake the bed and do ten jumping jacks, and he'd still be sleeping. One time, you dropped his shield, and boy, does that thing make a sound. You remember how you went invisible on instinct, looking over to the bed.
You thought you would've found him with narrowed eyes and an annoyed look. But no, he was dead asleep.
See, Ben doesn't like it when you leave him. He likes it when he gets to wake up next to you. You only stay to lick your own wounds.
Soldier Boy was a pretty face. Nothing more, nothing less. He called you all sorts of things. His whore, his slut, his cum slut, his walking pussy, his personal cum dump, and all sorts of other things.
He'd cum on your face, on your tits, on your ass, inside you. Anywhere and everywhere. You really were his cum dump.
No matter where you were. You were his sweet piece of ass, as he liked to call you. A pinch on the fat of your ass, a slap on the ass as you walked by.
It'd be different if it were in private, but it's not. It's out in public. Always in front of everyone else. And then you get those looks from Hughie of pity. MM doesn't even look at you. Annie only gives you an understanding look. Frenchie offers drugs. Kimiko gives him shit for it while trying to comfort you.
It's not like you're doing it against your will. That'd make you a prostitute. An actual whore.
You're not.
You don't get paid.
You're not under contract.
You do this because Soldier boy has a pretty face.
But when Butcher raises his glass in congratulations to you when you walk out with one of those smiles, you feel sick.
You had been the bargaining chip for Soldier Boy to help them. You stay and make things sweet for him, and he helps. You didn't mind. Hell, when was the last time you had to have fun? Real fun? Without holding back, afraid you'd crush the next guy's pelvis? Or snap the man's arm off? Or crush his hand?
Since Robbie, you think. And that hasn't been for a really long time. Course that was before you met everyone. Before you seriously got involved.
At first, it was fun. You could ignore the insults. Just so long as you got off. Soldier Boy was real good at that. He was always ready to go. You were always ready to go. When he got a little too mouthy with you, you'd make him levitate. He'd cuss you out saying how he hated flying.
"You're my little cum slut, yeah?" He muttered as he gripped your thighs harder before nipping at your skin on your neck. With a furrow of your brows, you pull him out of you and had him floating above you.
"Fuck." He cursed, looking down at you. Your swollen lips from him kissing you pouted in a way that made him want to fuck your mouth. Ben never kissed anyone. But fuck, he doesn't know what it is about you, but he fucking loves doing it with you. He loves doing anything with you.
Anything but not calling you names.
"I fucking hate it when you do this." His dick felt cold. Your warm cunt no long covering him. Your big eyes looking up, and cute little furrowed brows when you were mad at him. They got him going every time.
"I told you to stop calling me that." And just like that, you disappear. Course he could still see the sheet moving. You climbed off the bed, and Ben dropped onto the mattress. He called your name, asking where you were going.
He only saw your clothes levitating as you picked them up. He called your name again. "What the fuck am I supposed to do with this?" He looked over to his cock, which only swelled as it leaked with his pre. Pearly white globs sliding down. It took everything in him not to give a little whine, whimper, moan, or groan. You always left him so sensitive. "You gonna blue ball me?"
Your clothes dropped, and suddenly you appeared in front of him. He jumped with a curse coming from his mouth. He watched as your pretty lips pout as your brows furrowed in genuine confusion as you shook your head slightly. "What does that have to do with me...?"
Ben could only look at you with an incredulous look. What does it have to do with you? What the fuck did it have to do with you!? You're the one who's left him like this.
Ben doesn't know whether he likes it when you play dumb or not.
His little no-so-bimbo.
"I told you I'm not a cum slut, or your whore, or whatever else you think of." You gave him that look as you spoke. That look you give when you explain a five-year-old something. A slow shake of your head. A subtle disapproving look.
He hates it when you treat him like that. "You love it." He muttered out smirking.
You only gave him a smile as you nodded before slapping him. And damn him, it only got him harder.
"Bye." You left him, and Ben was in a terrible mood for the rest of the day.
After a while, it got old. You got tired of telling him. You know, it was the agreement that you were supposed to make things sweet for him, but there were other aspects, you know? Did he even know you had a degree? Did he know you had a great job that paid amazingly before everything went to shit? That you owned your very own house without any man. Did he know your favorite color? Your favorite movie? Your favorite food?
He didn't.
All he thought about you was sex. Never was there a simple conversation that didn't result in sex. You're getting tired.
It doesn't help that all he degrades you to is a body for his use. For his pleasure.
Even when you got hurt, all he thought about was sex. You think that's the first time you felt like doing it with him felt like a chore. You felt like that one wife from Bridgerton. Lady Danbury. That one scene where it's her husband fucking her.
"Yo, could you shut the fuck up for a second?" You hissed, looking over towards Soldier Boy, who hadn't shut up about how much of a shitty job this was. All the while, you're focused on keeping both of you invisible.
It was dead silent for a couple of seconds. Your heart pounded. His grip on your hand remained the same. You felt your hands beginning to sweat. Either he was getting hotter, or you were getting scared. You've never spoken to him like that before. He's never hit you. Well, unless it was sex, but it was never hard. You could imagine the look on his face right now. You've seen him sock Hughie in the face for less. You were panicking. You turned away from him, his hand still in yours.
It was too much, and your invisible cloak over both of you dropped. You were still turned away from him, ever so slightly, so he couldn't see your face. He was still silent. You fixed your face before looking over at him with a bored, annoyed look; you know it irritates him. Not the best move, but like hell you were gonna let him know he scared you.
He dropped your hand and frowned. "If you ever tell me to shut the fuck up again like that, I swear to god I'll make you gargle my-"
As he spoke, out of the corner of your eye, you saw someone load a harpoon gun; why they had that, you don't know. Bullets don't work on him; this might.
It was aimed directly at his heart. It would only hit your shoulder if you weren't fast enough to put up your shield.
Spoiler alert.
You weren't.
You pushed Ben out of the way, and you underestimated just how much power the thing had. It pierced your right shoulder and lodged you back against a wall.
The back of your head hit the wall hard. You groaned, your vision blurring in and out. You heard him yell out your name. You were still pinned against the wall. You closed your eyes and then opened them. A bright light forced you to close them again.
The next time you opened your eyes, it was because you screamed as Ben pulled you off the harpoon from your shoulder. You crumpled down, and he caught you, pulling you against him.
He called out your name. The back of your head hurts. Your hand touched the back of your head while he put pressure on the wound on your shoulder.
The back of your head was wet and sticky. You pulled your hand back and saw red. You wanted to cry. Fuck you really need to get a grip, but you can't think about that right now. Still, you felt that choked up feeling in your throat, and your lips frown.
"Ben?" You murmured out. He turned to you with furrowed brows. You show him the blood on your fingers. He cursed hugging you tighter tell you not to fall asleep.
You told him you were sleepy anyways.
He made quick work to get you both back to base. After a stitch-up on your shoulder and wrapping around your head, you were left in Ben's bed. Your healing was always slow. This would take two days to properly mend.
Ben, on the other wasn't happy with you. A constant look of disgust. A constant look of anger. You told him you're better off at your place if he's just gonna look at you like that.
"You're not fucking bulletproof, why the fuck would you do that!?" He kept his voice just under a shout.
He was right. You're not. You didn't get the luxury. Y'know, force fields and all? Guess the V in you decided it wasn't needed.
"Because it was aimed at your heart. Better my shoulder than your heart." You mumbled, looking behind him, watching Mulan play in the background.
"That shit wouldn't have even pierced me." He stepped in front of the TV, and you looked up. You had that look on your face again. That look that constantly pissed him off. That look you always had. As if everything was beneath you, or you just couldn't be forced to care.
"Maybe it was laced. Besides, it was a miscalculation on my part. I thought I could put my shield fast enough after I pushed you. Next time, I know to just put it up. It was instinct." You shrugged, listening to the track as it began to play 'Honor to Us All.'
"There isn't gonna be a next time. You're not going out again if you're gonna be this fucking stupid!" He glared down at you, and you raised a brow.
"It's my job to keep everyone safe, including you. I have to go on these things." You shrugged.
"Who gives a fuck about them!?" He hissed, walking to the side and grabbing your face. "I would've been fine! Stop with the bullshit and tell me why the fuck you did it!"
Your pulse sped up as you looked at him. He gave you a look. A look you've never seen from him. Not a look clouded with lust, or anything else. A look of desperation. You wanted to lean into his touch. You continued to look at him before you accepted your face and leaned into his hand. "Better me dead than you."
Only because he was the ace up your sleeve. Keep him happy. Keep him on our side. Those were your orders from Butcher. That was your mission. That's why you told him that. No other reason. Not because you wanted to see in what other ways he could look at you besides lust. Wanted to see if you would look at me in the same way you wish to be looked at. A look of love. A look of confidence, you're not just a piece of meat.
So when he caressed your face with his thumb. You leaned even more, looking to him. He gave you this look. This look that you've only ever seen once before. Or at least a look similar to it.
A look from Robbie all those years ago.
"You're so fucking stupid," Ben murmured. You leaned up to kiss him. He obliged you.
When you pulled back, the look was back. And there was that look of lust back. "You can't fall asleep for the next couple of hours. I'll keep you up."
You paused, looking at him. You looked away as he began kissing down your collar. Your eyes looked back over to the TV as 'Reflection' played.
Yeah, you were real fucking stupid.
It felt like a forced orgasm, if that's even a thing. The first time you've felt disgusted with yourself.
His little comments didn't help. Just thinking about it makes you feel as if you're about to cry.
But you can't cry. Not with him. Not with anyone. That's not who you are. You're the muscle of the group. Protecting them against bullets with force fields, sneaking them into places as you make them invisible, and so much more. You're strong. But not strong enough to cry.
Never letting anyone see that they get to you. Never a real reaction. Maybe they think you're emotionally stunted. You're not. You feel everything, just choose not to express it. There's a difference!
You looked over towards Soldier Boy, and you felt used. You wanted something sweet. You know he's not that. Your bad for trying to make him into something he's not. You stood up from the bed. He's been knocked out at least for another five hours. Assuming he doesn't get one of those PTSD dreams he swears he doesn't get but clings to you nevertheless.
Course only when he's sleeping. So he says it doesn't count because he's not conscious.
You showered. An everything shower. To cleanse yourself. Rid yourself of any remnants of him. You scrubbed and scrubbed. Cleaned and cleaned. Lathered and lathered. Until your skin was dry and you were clean.
Born anew like these showers always did.
You packed your suitcases and made them invisible as they floated beside you, only your fingers touching them.
"Where you off to?" Butcher sipped at his bourbon, and you turned.
You gave a deep breath before looking towards him. Your lips pursed before you sighed and shrugged. "I'm out."
"What the fuck do you mean out? D'ya forget that little lover boy up there is here because of you?" Butcher stood up.
MM walked over to you. Hughie stood up with those puppy dog eyes he always pulls. Annie didn't say anything, nor did Kimiko. Frenchie shook his head.
You made a face and gave a small laugh. "That sounds like a you problem, babe." You gave a mocking smile. "Contrary to popular belief, I'm not a prostitute or anybody's fucking slut." You looked over Butcher. "And you as sure as fuck ain't my fucking pimp." You looked back towards everyone else. "I don't need your looks of pity or whatever else y'all look at me as." You looked over to MM, who only looked down before looking back up. "I did it because I wanted to." Your gaze turned back towards Butcher, whose brows were furrowed. "It just so happened it aligned with what you wanted. I'm not under contract, nor do I get paid, so by definition, I'm not whore or prostitute. I'm bored and tired of him, so I'm out."
You turned around and walked out of the door. Hughie ran after you. Butcher yelled out your name.
You entered a crowd and let your invisibly cloak you as you disappeared into the crowd.
"I told you she was too sweet for him," MM muttered, shaking his head, sitting back down on the couch.
Butcher threw back the drink, thinking how the fuck they were supposed to keep Soldier Boy with them now.
All the while you walked the street. Took taxis without them ever knowing you were there.
Where you were going, you didn't know. All you knew is you wanted something sweet. Something to give yourself to.
You walked for hours. Rode cars for hours. You had no idea where you were.
And back with Butcher, his eyes could only close in acceptance as he heard Soldier Boy look through rooms. Finally, he came down. He didn't say anything. His eyes scanned the room. He didn't see you. Obviously. So he went to sit next to Butcher.
Subtly, he asked where you were.
MM scoffed, and Soldier Boy looked over to him. They both looked at each other. Soldier Boy shook his head, turning back to Butcher, asking once more where you were.
"Maybe if you weren't such a fucking dick all the time, she'd be here." Hughie stood up and so did Soldier Boy.
Butcher tried to come up with an excuse.
"What the fuck are you talking about?"
"She's gone. She left." MM spoke, giving a small smile, leaning back against the couch.
"Left where?"
"Somewhere safer," Butcher spoke. All eyes turned to him. "Homelander found her when she went out for something. Plan B, maybe." It was a tasteless joke, but oh well. "Anyways, he found her, she got away, she's in hiding." If this was the way to keep Soldier Boy and motivate him to kill Homelander faster, then so be it. "Faster we kill Homelander, faster you and yer girl can fuck off into the sunset."
Ben paused. He felt warm. His chest hurt. And if he didn't calm down soon, it'd be another time when he blew up a whole building. All because you got shot.
You were a good fuck. That's all. So why is he burning now? He said last time it was only because they tried to kill him. What excuse does he have now? "She was a good fuck, but I still want to kill Payback. I don't care where she is."
Yes, he did.
"Better me dead than you."
He turned around and walked back up to his room, looking for anything that belonged to you. What if you hadn't gotten away? What if Homelander found you?
Even if he did, why would he care? It's not like he thought a part of him died the day you almost died. It's not like you were someone who cared for him. Not really.
If you had, you would've woken him up and told him what happened, and he would have run off with you to keep you safe.
But he's no hero.
You're too sweet for him.
Those smiles you finally gave him after weeks of pestering you. That smile you gave him the first time you both slept together. That smile that was so unbelievably sweet, it made him fall asleep right on top of you. That smile you gave him when you told him that it's you who would rather be dead. You said he was worth being dead for. He, an old man who has lived for over a century, rather than you, who has only begun in life.
You were far too sweet for him, and he's never had a sweet tooth. But now he thinks you may have given him one, and it's not until you've gone that Ben realizes that he's got a cavity.
All the while you're in the middle of a field of who knows where. A sweet flower in a field.
Too sweet in the hands of someone who doesn't know how to care for a sweet flower without it wilting, only now knowing after he has cut it.
A flower too sweet, which has instead gone to look for a flower preservationist who will soon find the way to preserve his sweet flower, which finally returned to him.
Robbie looked down towards the V1, then turned back to you. He grabbed you and flew away from the toxic fumes back to the field in which he found you. He murmured your name before falling onto one knee and opening the box that contained the last vile of V1, offering it to you like a wedding ring.
Pairing: Superman!fem!reader x Mark Grayson x Gender bent!Lois Lane (Louis Lane)
Rating: 16+
Not proofread
Warnings: Fighting, PTSD (lemme know if I missed any)
Tags: No use of Y/N, no description of reader
Synopsis: Invincible talks to the Woman of Tomorrow, Mark Grayson also wants to talk to the Woman of Tomorrow. And there also no way you have a crush on Louis! Donât you like Mark? Invincible also learns youâre a lot cooler than he is.
New? Start here
Your mind ran amok. Omni-man got away. He said something.Â
Of course, you werenât completely honest with Cecil. You knew you were Kryptononian and all that other good stuff. You knew Krypton was no more. It sucked, but you never knew Krypton. All you have is your cat, the super-robots, and of course, your top-secret lair.Â
But hey! That's what having a secret identity means. Keeping it a secret. Besides, it wasn't a total lie. The actual planet you knew, you didnât really know it. Only what the super-robots told you. You didnât know how it happened, but the way Omni-Man spoke, you think he knows more than he told you.
Golly, it really knocked you out of sorts! You were pummeled by him. It sure hurt. You were injured far more than with that beast you faced the other day.
But you didnât go back. You failed. You donât even want to know the casualty count. A couple of hundred at least. All because you got caught up in your own head. So instead, you left and headed straight for the sun. It evaporated away your tears of guilt and shame before they even got a chance to spill.Â
You need to do better. You have to do better. People canât get hurt on the account that a couple of words will put you off commission. Your brows furrowed as you looked down to Earth. Your job was to keep people safe, no matter what. Your job was to give people hope, no matter what. When they saw your symbol, theyâd be filled with relief. Not to fear, Superwoman was here!Â
You saw a figure flying towards you. It was Invincible. He had dealt with the brunt of the attack. It seemed more personal with those two than he seemed with you.Â
Your job also meant lending a shoulder to cry on and an ear to listen to all their problems, and being a supporting hand guiding them. You exhaled softly, tucking your own feelings somewhere far away, somewhere quiet, and stepped into that role as easily as breathing.
âHad a good tan? How long have you been out here?â He spoke to you, but was not really speaking. You heard him in your mind. Freaky. Neat! But freaky.Â
âNot long. Just come up sometimes.â You spoke, and his jaw dropped. âBut hey, pretty cool trick with the mind thing.â
His jaw slackened. âYou talk in space!?â
âYou canât?â you asked lightly, tilting your head.
âNo!â
âOh.â You shrugged, like it wasnât much at all. âWell, I can.â You caught the way he started to sweat, even in the stillness. âYou wanna talk on the moon?â
He nodded. So you went.
Now you sit side by side on the pale, endless stretch of gray, Earth in front of you, still rotating ever so slowly. Invincibleâs hands fidgeted in his lap, restless, unsure, while you watched him. A guilt is starting to eat at you. You shouldâve done more. You can do more.Â
Memories flashed of Omni-Man and his words about Krypton. Something about you seeking revenge. For what?Â
âLook,â he started, his voice echoing in your mind, âI wanted to say thanks. For helping with everything.â He glanced at you, then away. âTaking me to the hospital, being there when I woke up, being there for my mom, and everything. You didnât have to, so⌠thank you.â
You turned to him fully then, your expression softening, something warm and steady settling into your gaze. âYou donât have to thank me for that,â you said gently. âYou needed help. Thatâs reason enough.â
âNo, itâs not just that,â Invincible insisted, shaking his head. âYou were there for everything. Everything myâ Omni-man did. You still stayed and helped me. You got beaten up because of me, and despite that, you stayed. Most donât. I donât know if I would.â
âBut I do,â you replied simply, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. âThatâs kind of the point.â
He huffed out a quiet laugh, but it didnât last long. The weight returned quickly, pressing into his shoulders, into the way his hands curled tighter together. âI donât know if Iâm doing any of this right,â he admitted. âBeing⌠this. Being like my dad. Or not like him. I donât even know what thatâs supposed to mean anymore.â
You ignored the huge bombshell dropped on you. Sure, you met his mom, but everyone had a mom. Figured he was adopted, like you were. Not that Omni-Man was his dad. It made sense why things seemed more personal now. You kept your face straight.
You watched him for a moment. He was so young. You were young, too, but it was different. Youâve been in the game (even if it was the little leagues in Smallville) since you were old enough to control your powers. You know what itâs like to carry things your average Joe canât. Know what itâs like to feel the anxiety of letting everything slip from your hands if you loosen your grip, even by a little.Â
âThen donât try to be him,â you said softly. âOr anyone else.â
He frowned faintly. âThatâs not exactly helpful.â
âIt is,â you insisted, your tone still gentle but firmer now. âYouâre not supposed to have all the answers. Youâre just supposed to choose. Wake up every morning and put one foot in front of the other, and try to make the right choice. Over and over again. Even when itâs hard. Especially when itâs hard.â
Mark looked down again, quieter this time. âAnd what if I mess it up?â
âYou will,â you said, without hesitation.
His head snapped up. âWow. Thanks.â
You smiled. âEveryone does.â
âEven you?â
âEspecially me.â You nodded, looking back towards Earth. âBut, thatâs not the part that matters.â You looked back over to him. He had that look on your face, that look on his face that you had whenever you went crying home to your father after messing up. You were lucky enough to have someone to steer you in the right direction.
âThen what does?â he asked.
 If thatâs what Invincible needed, then youâd be that for him.Â
You leaned back slightly, bracing your hands against the cool dust of the moon, eyes drifting up toward Earth. âThat you keep trying anyway,â you said. âBesides, youâre already going in the right direction. You care enough to worry about getting it wrong. People who donât care donât ask those questions.â
He followed your gaze, staring at the distant planet, something in him easing just a little. âYou make it sound simple.â
âWell, Iâve had my own fair share of experiences. Trust me, Iâd be the first to know that itâs not easy.â you admitted. âBut that also means I know just how worth it is.âÂ
There was a silence between the both of you. His voice began once more in your mind. Soft. ââŚDo you ever get tired?âÂ
âSometimes.â You answered. That's not the answer he needed, but it's the honest truth. Of course, you got tired. Sometimes you just wish to have a normal life. Maybe youâd still be with Alan in Smallville. Maybe all those things wouldnât have happened. Maybe your dad would still be alive. âBut, when I look down and see everyone living happy and safe lives, it all passes. I want to give them a better tomorrow. That's why I keep going.âÂ
âŚ
Mark silently ate as William chatted away. Your words kept spinning in his mind. God, you said everything right, but heâs not you.Â
You took hits for him. You gave him a fighting chance. You saved people when he couldnât. Youâre not like him. Youâre just perfect. You say you donât know what to do, but somehow you always make the perfect choice. Why canât Mark be like that?Â
Why can't he be like you?Â
You said get tired, but of course, youâre instantly rejuvenated after what? Looking at people smiling? You were with him when he woke up. Both his legs were broken, and he couldnât walk for three days afterwards. His bruises didnât go away till a week later. When he woke up, all you had were some bruises and a bandage over your nose. A day later, you were as good as new, besides a few scratches.Â
Youâre so goddamn perfect. Â
Mark had only gone to apologize for what you went through, instead it turned into you comforting him. It just came so naturally to want to relax while you were there.Â
Superwoman.Â
Wonderful.Â
Still, there's a part of him that just wants to take shelter under your cape. Youâre strong, but his father had said something to you. He had seen it. Seen how it made you freeze when you gained the upperhand on him. Markâs ears were ringing at the time, so he didnât hear. But he saw your brows furrow and a second later you were punched with everything his dad had. You were sent flying upwards and out of Earthâs atmosphere. Â
He beat you bloody, then slammed you back onto Earth atop a mountain peak. It broke your back.Â
All of that, and in a couple of hours you were standing again.Â
So he knows that if maybe his father hadnât said what he did, maybe you both wouldâve beat him. Beat some sense into him. Youâre stronger than him, and sometimes he just wants to curl underneath your shadow and hide while you face the world without a fear in the world.Â
Do you even have a secret identity? Do you know his? You met his mom, you know who his dad is. Eve only mentioned your last name was âEl.â He tried searching it up. Nothing came up.Â
Mid bite he stopped. What exactly were your powers? Flight, super strength, durability, talking in space. Didnât you need to breathe for that? Could you breathe in space? Could he?Â
If he could, does that mean youâre a Viltrumite?Â
His heart dropped. Were you like his dad?
Does Cecil know anything? Mark doesnât think heâd be able to beat you if you went rogue.
Markâs mind spun until William cut his train of thought off.Â
âHey I saw your pictures on the front page today!â William spoke and nudged you. Mark looked up. Your big glasses, a worn out sweater, your knees tucked in. You looked really small.Â
He almost found it funny.Â
From Superwoman, to you. Such a juxtaposition from one thought to another. Â
The grandeur of Superwoman, to you who is smiling because your picture got the front page. Mark looked away from you as you talked about the shot.Â
Sometimes his head hurts when he looks at you for too long. Your glasses distorted something. Once, you dropped them by accident. You turned around quickly looking for something in your bag. William picked them up looking through them. He asked if you really needed them. They seemed to have no prescription. Mark tried them on. It gave him a headache.Â
You said they were blue light and reading glasses.Â
Still a little odd, but Mark never paid any real attention to you in that way. You were just always there, and heâd never notice when youâd go missing, and if he did, always figured you went elsewhere.Â
You were never around much after school. Always at your internship and Louis, whom Mark is sure, you have a crush on and is reciprocated.Â
Yeah, good for you. (Maybe heâs a little salty because he and Amber broke up.)
âŚ
âIâve lived in a big city all my life, gotten all the best scoops. Whoever I shadowed, I didnât stay in their shadow for long. So Iâm having just a bit of a hard time trying to understand how some yokel from Smallville is suddenly getting every hot story in town and with the best shots to go with it.â Louis sat on your desk with a raised brow.Â
You looked around and smiled. âWell Louis if you want to know so bad,â You watched him lean in. âIâm actually Superwoman in disguise and I wear these glasses, theyâre called hypo-glasses and they subliminally hypnotise you to hide my identity. I became a journalist to hear about disasters as they happen all for my grand plan of squeezing you out of the by-line.âÂ
You watched with glee as with each word you spoke Louisâs face dropped before shaking his head at you. âFine, donât tell me, but youâre a cruel woman Kent.âÂ
âYou asked!â You yelled at him as he walked away. The phone Cecil gave you rang. You were given coordinates and a picture of a giant. You quickly suited up and left. You smiled hearing Louis ran back into your office calling for a race between the two of you for this scoop.Â
You flew beside Robot or Rudy now if you remember right. He told you that it seemed the giant had the mental capacity of an eight year old. Your eyes narrowed as you watched the monster version of monster girl go in for a punch. You caught it and threw him back.Â
âCall your team off Rudy! I got this!â You turned around at the giant.Â
âYouâre on my side?â The giant called out to you. You smiled and nodded.Â
âWhat in fucks name are you doing!? Rex yelled out throwing explosions.
You shielded the giant before you turned around shaking your head. âLanguage!âÂ
You turned around catching the car that was thrown. âI said stop!â You turned around and handed the car to the giant. âHere, put this down gently. Can you do that for me please?â
âWhy?â The giantâs eye narrowed.Â
You offered another smile. âBecause I said the magic word, please.â You watched him think it over while the rest of the guardians all paused. The giant nodded and put the car down. âNow my friends over there told me you want to be president, and wanted to go to space?â You looked over towards Rudy who landed besides the Guardians who were all ready to attack.
âYour friends are mean.â The giant murmured.Â
You nodded. âI know they can be pretty nasty sometimes, but theyâre just doing their job. And their job is to protect people. Youâve hurt people.âÂ
âI didnât mean to.â The giant sat down looking around him. You smiled and floated down to his level.Â
You saw his lip tremble and water build on his waterline. âHey! Hey! Hey! You donât need to cry. Itâs okay, no one was seriously hurt. You just gotta be careful.â You reached out, touching his jaw soothing him. âNow you have to apologize. Own up to your mistakes.â A big fat tear fell from his eye as he cried out an apology. âThatâs good. Now, I donât know about making you president or taking you to space, but I can take as far up as I can without hurting you. You let me know when it starts to hurt or you canât breathe then weâll come down and Iâll show you the white house, yeah?â
The giant clapped causing small rumblings. âWoah okay! I know youâre excited, but I need you to stay still. Youâre big, and theyâre small. You could hurt them. Do you want to hurt them?â
âNo.â
âOkay, then remember, be careful. Iâll be right back.â With that you floated down to the Guardians. Your smile faded off as you looked at them. âWhen I said to stop, that didnât mean throwing explosions,â You looked at Rex who rolled his eyes. âOr cars.â You looked over towards Black Samson who narrowed his eyes at you. You sighed, shaking your head. âAll you had to do was talk to him. He's eight years old.âÂ
âUh Rudy said he had the mind of an eight year old. An eight year old doesnât level city blocks.â Monster girl spoke and you bit your tongue. There are many things you could say, but none of them are nice.Â
âRegardless.â You closed your eyes and shook your head. âAll you had to do was talk to him. In doing so you wouldâve minimized damage to everyone, including yourselves. You all need to think before you act.â You looked over towards Rudy. âEspically you. Youâre the leader of this team, act accordingly.â He showed no signs of understanding. Then again, he was a robot. Or was it now a kid inside a robot suit? Whatever, youâd think about it later. âNow, why donât you all take those who need medical attention to a hospital, or find an ambulance. Iâll handle the rest.âÂ
And with that you left to find Eve, youâd wanted to ask her for something thatâd make it a little easier to carry the giant.Â
âŚ
Having you around made things so much easier, but still, you always come in and save the day, handling his âvilliansâ (Mark thinks itâs corny to call them villains) in a single punch, at most? Two. Well, besides the fact it bruises his ego it also fuels his fear that if you really are Viltrumite or for some reason turn out to be evil, he wonât be able to stop you.
But he really doesnât think you have it in you. That day, when he had to face who knows how many Mauler twins, you left to stop someone from jumping off a building. You left him giving him a smile. Told him that you believed in him and then off you were. He saw it on some random post a day later.
Mark spends a lot of time watching you. You always stop for photos, taking any and all food offerings, helping people with everyday mundane things, like helping people cross the street, or lifting up all the groceries. Heâll catch himself smiling at the deeds you do. It warms his heart.Â
Mark thought his dad was a hero. He wasnât. He hopes you truly are. He doesnât think he can take another heart break like that.Â
However, there is one downside of watching you.Â
Louis Lane.Â
Somehow, someway, where you are, so is Louis. Always with his questions, always with his funny remarks that make you laugh.Â
Not to mention, the dud is always in some kind of trouble! To make matters worse, the guy is a natural flirt, and you bet he takes any chance he gets to flirt with you even if heâs actively being shot at. You, being the perfect, kind, compassionate, warm soul you are, go along with it.Â
âTake cover!â You shouted as you blocked the bullets from hitting Louis. Mark was on the floor twitching from some kind of ray gun they shot him with.Â
They shot some nets holding up a bunch of heavy metal bars. They fell on top of you. You grunted and fell down. Mark shouted out your name. (Course not your actual name, because Mark doesnât know that. Itâs a bitter thought. Also! Superwoman is mouthful. Louis dropped the ball on it. That is what Mark has decided.)
Mark got up as the man took aim, but before Mark could do anything guess who came to steal his thunder? Louis Lane. He had taken some hook that was handing on a line and swung it to hit the man right on his head.Â
And you? You smiled, but not that smile you give everyone else, but that little smile Mark knows you give to Louis. You told him thanks and Louis gave a smart reply that made you grin. Great.Â
After that, you left Mark alone while you took Louis flying. (Removing him from the dangerous situation, sure? But flying nonetheless.)Â
You also came back five minutes later to find Mark with a busted lip, but bad guys apprehended!
Golly! It really does grinds his gears! (He needs to stop hanging out with you so much. Both versions: Kent and Superwoman.)
Despite that, the only thing Mark takes refuge in, is that Louis canât get an exclusive from Superwoman. All of those belong to the person who always beats him in getting the by line. You.Â
You write great papers all about Superwoman. From your papers he learned that you have a cat named Streaky. Where do you even keep the cat?Â
All these weeks later and Mark still has no idea whether or not you have a secret identity. To be fair, you donât know his either. To you, heâs just Invincible. You donât ever ask or prod. Sometimes he wishes you would. He desperately wants to know youâre not here to conquer the world and enslave everyone.Â
So, today is the day he decides heâll find out something about you that isnât from the paper, or from watching you from a distance, but actually talking to you and this time not a conversation where heâs laying out his insecurities in front of you.Â
âHey, you got a minute?â Mark caught up to you as you caught a balloon mid air and floated back down handing it back to the kid that lost it.Â
The kid jumped up and down shouting your name and hugging you. You smiled hugging the kid back before waving bye to everyone and floating back up next to his side. âYeah, I got a minute, whatâs up!âÂ
You smiled at him and he paused. He never realised just how bright(?âNo, thatâs not the right word. The right word is inhuman, but that sounds mean.) The vividness of them. As if the stars themselves were inside your eyes. You couldnât possibly have a secret identity. Heâd recognize your eyes anywhere. âI wanted to ask you a question. Kinda personal.â
âTo the moon then?â You asked looking up. Guess that was your spot with him now. He nodded and up you both went.
âSo, whatâs up.â You landed on the moon, dust floated up. Mark followed.
âLook, Iâm not accusing you of anything, I swear. Itâs just thatâŚâ He tried to say this in a way you wouldnât take offense. But honestly, how could you not take offense? You put yourself out there for him and here he was asking if youâre like his dad. âWhat Iâm trying to say, is thatâŚâ He rolled around a rock under his heel, unable to look you in the eye and ask. It felt wrong. âYouâre here toâŚyâknow? Conquer it or anythingâŚright?â
Way to go Mark. Put it right out there as he figuratively (it feels like heâs done it physically too) spits in your face and drags your name through the mud. But even if you were here for that, would you tell him?
Your hand lands on his shoulder. Itâs soft. Light. He knows youâre capable of more. He looks up and youâre offering one of those comforting smiles that so many seek refuge in. âNo, Iâm not here to conquer, or rule, or anything else. Iâm only here to help. I have no ulterior motives, I swear.â Then your lips purse and your brow raises. Mark stays still. âUnless itâs flying in the proximity of a place that sells crab cakes in hopes they shout out my name and I get a free meal out of it. If so, then you caught me red handed.â You give a small embarrassed laugh and play with the ends of your cape. âBut look! I got a good reason for it!âÂ
Mark just stands there. Youâre here admitting to your guilt of accepting free meals while his mind is finding all the ways he could try (and fail) to stop you.Â
âActually I donât. I donât even need to eat food. I just like to.â You begin rambling and Mark can only laugh at himself. âHonestly, itâs bad. I mean this is a total abuse of my power! I know itâs wrong, but I just really like crab. Specialically in the form of cake. I should really start paying, but Iâm not exactly rich yâknow? If I ate as many crab cakes as I wanted and paid. Iâd go broke in a day!âÂ
Wait? So you did have a job? That means a secret identity! Or that maybe the government pays you. But if that were the case, why would it matter if you went broke? âIâm not gonna bust you for eating crab cakes.âÂ
âOh.â
âItâs just that I donât know anything about you. Not your name, not where youâre from. Nothing. And it doesnât help that you can do everything I can do, but better! I donât even know if youâre a Viltrumite! And with everything that happened with my dad, I guess Iâm just a little paranoid.â Mark plopped down on a rock exhausted. Â
You went to take a seat next to him. âI know things can be scary, but I can promise you that Iâm not here to do anything like that. All I want to do is give people a better tomorrow.â You paused for a moment and Mark looked over to you as you looked towards Earth. âI canât tell you my secret identity because I have people that I care for and love and any connection to me can put them in danger.â
Mark began to take off his mask. âAnd if only I knew? I can show you who I am and only Iâll know who you are.âÂ
You hand stopped him with a sympathetic smile. âItâs not that I donât trust you, itâs just that I canât risk it. Itâs not something Iâm willing to do. Iâm sorry, Invincible.â You pulled his mask down. âBesides, I want to keep my superhero life separate from my personal life. What happens if I see you walking down the street? Then I react and Iâm assuming with everything, Cecil is keeping a close eye on you, then it comprises me.âÂ
So Cecil doesnât even know. That doesnât make him feel better. He looks at you and he can tell you know he just isnât at ease. He feels bad pressuring you, but youâre just so good. Youâre too good to be true. His heart, his mind, his soul, the hundred of lives he cost, just doesnât allow him to trust you blindly in the way he did with his father. God, his dad really did a number on him.Â
You stood up offering your hand to him. âI canât tell you everything, but I can tell you enough.âÂ
Invincible took it and together you both flew to the North pole. You both landed and Invincible raised a brow. You only gave him a knowing smile before taking a step forward. The ground rumbled and out came crystals. He only watched in awe as it sprouted to its full glory. âCome on! Iâll show you inside.â
âYou have a secret lair!?â Invincible shouted running over to you falling in step beside you.Â
âYou donât?â You raised a brow and Invincible was left gaping.Â
âNo!â Of course he didnât have one. He wishes he did. This is SICK!
 âOh, well, itâs called the Fortress of Solitude.â You raised your hand to the big door which had the outline of your symbol on its door. He watched as the symbol lit up and opened. âI came up with it myself.â You nodded with a grin on your face.
âThatâs a sick name.â Invincible spoke trying to get a peak inside. You know for such a place, the doors did open slowly. Sure it works now for dramatic effects, but itâs gotta get tiring at some point no?
âRight!? I was so proud of myself when I came up with it!â You walked inside and Markâs brows furrowed.Â
âWelcome back Superwoman!â A voice called out.Â
Invincible jumped. He didnât think anyone else would be in here. He watched three figures step out from behind the large crystal wall. They looked off, they looked likeâ
âHey! Thirteen, eight, three!â You greeted them and then a fourth came out.
Invincible stood in shock. Are you kidding? You had sentient robots? Each with a number on their chests with the outline of your crest? Each with a blue cape? They also looked from the past, yet also the future. This was really cool.Â
âSuper-robots, meet Invincible." You stepped aside as they all waved. âInvincble, meet my super-robots.âÂ
âHey.â He waved then turned to you. âYou have super-robots!?â He whisper-yelled.
âWell yeah, theyâre standing right there.â You raised a brow.Â
âMeet four, sheâs new.â Thirteen spoke and Invincible turned to the fourth one that came with a four on her(?) chest.Â
âHey.â You smiled and waved.Â
The robotâs mouth glowed with every word. It blinked too. He could almost tell she was happy despite no indication of facial expressions. Though it was all but confirmed when she giggled making a comment that you looked at her.Â
You turned to him walking through the fortress. The architecture is unlike anything heâs ever seen. Invincible doesnât even want to mention the technology. You had asked the super-robots to get you both something to drink.Â
âThank you.â Invincible to the cup in his hands looking down towards the beverage. He didnât know what it was, but it smelled good.Â
âNo need to thank us sir as we will not appreciate it. We have no conscience whatsoever, merely admonitions here to serve.â The robot spoke before walking away. He looked over to you. You only told him that you get used to it.Â
You took a sip before looking at him. âYou said you thought I was from Viltrum. Iâm not. Iâm from Krypton. A planet that is gone now. It was destroyed.â You set down your drink and walked over to a wall. âHey eight?â
âYes maâam?â
âCan you play my parentâs message?â You offered him your hand and walked him back.Â
âOf course maâam.â
Invincible watched as a hologram appeared. A man and a woman, there both dressed in regal dressing, all white. The resemblance between you and them was clear as day. The message began. It glitched once before going once more. He couldnât understand a thing other than one word. Krypton. Then the message began to glitch. It glitched a total of five more times before the message restarted.
âThe message was damaged in transit from Krypton." You murmured before turning around. âEight, translate please.âÂ
âYes maâam.â The message relooped and began once more. âWe love you more than heaven, our daughter. We love you more than land. Our beloved home will soon be gone forever, but hope vitalizes our heart, and that hope is you.â Something -El followed. Invincible turned to you and looked up to your parents. Your name was said. You had told him your name. âWe have searched the universe for a home where you can do the most good and live out Kryptonâs truth. That place is Earth.â
âThe rest of the message is lost.â You sat down as the holograms disappeared. âMy parents sent me here to do good. So thatâs what Iâm doing. I want to give people hope. Thatâs the only thing I want.â
Invincible felt more at ease with those words. He nodded as sat next to you. âAnd crab cakes.â
You laughed, nudging him with your shoulder, nodding. âAnd crab cakes.â
He muttered out your name. You turned to him. âSo thatâs your name?â
âYeah, but people donât really call me that.â You added nothing else and Invincible didnât ask anything more about it. You had already said your secret identity isnât something you want anyone to know. Not even him. Itâs a bitter thought, and an even more bitter feeling.Â
âSo what can Kryptonians do?â Invincible asked, sitting up straighter, a grin breaking across his face. âBesides flight and super strength and durability.â
âNothing special, really,â you replied with a small shrug, tapping your chin as you thought. âBasically what you can do, I think. I have super hearing.â
Invincible nodded quickly.
âSuper smell,â you added.
He kept nodding, eyes widening slightly.
âSuper vision. Basically the six senses, theyâre just enhanced.â
He leaned forward a little. âWait. How enhanced?â
You hummed softly, glancing up as if measuring the distance in your mind. âFrom the edge of the troposphere, I can see astronauts as if they were standing right in front of me.â
âWhat!?â Invincible blurted, nearly jumping.
You blinked at him. âYou canât?â
âNo!â
âOh.â You shrugged lightly. âWell⌠can you see subatomic particles?â
âWhat!? No!â he said, incredulous.
âOh.â You tilted your head. âI can.â
âWhat else!?â Invincible pressed, leaning even closer now.
âI donât need to eat, or breathe, or drink,â you said simply.
âWhat!?â He ran a hand through his hair. âWait, what else can you do with your vision?â
âUmâŚâ you glanced off to the side, thinking. âI can see the electromagnetic spectrum. I can see and identify radio or television, any and all broadcast and transmitted frequencies. It lets me avoid detection through radar or satellites. I can also trace cell-phone signals.â You gave a small shrug. âCanât you?â
âNo!â Invincible said, almost offended.
âThen how do you stay hidden?â you asked, genuinely curious.
âI donât,â he admitted. âCecil knows my moves.â
âWell,â you said, a faint smile tugging at your lips, âhe doesnât know where you are right now. That I can tell you.â
Invincible paused, then huffed. âOkay⌠what else?â
âI have X-ray vision,â you added.
He narrowed his eyes slightly. âSo you can see who I am?â
âNot right now,â you said calmly. âI can activate it, but I donât use it often. I respect peopleâs privacy.â
âThatâs⌠good,â he muttered.
âOh! And I also have thermal vision and heat vision,â you continued.
âWhatâs the difference?â Invincible asked.
âI can see heat signatures,â you explained, âand the otherâŚI shoot lasers.â
âWhat!?â he groaned, throwing his hands up. âThis isnât fair! Why do you get all these cool powers and I just have super strength and flight!â
âNot true,â you said, shaking your head gently. âYour atoms arenât the same as everyone elseâs. Theyâre different.â
Invincible frowned. âWhat does that even mean?â
âYour physiology is unlike anything Iâve ever seen,â you continued, your tone thoughtful now. âYour atoms⌠they have variable properties. Your body arranges them in a way that amplifies your abilities to an extreme degree.â
He blinked. âOkayâŚ?â
âYour flight, for example,â you said, gesturing slightly toward him. âItâs different from mine. Thereâs a complex balancing system in your inner ears. It generates inertia. I canât do that.â
Invincible stared at you for a second, then slumped slightly. âStill not as cool as having heat vision.â
You let out a quiet laugh, the sound soft against the crystalline walls. âI think itâs cooler,â you said gently.
Invincible huffed. He didnât even want to know anything else. So he changed the subject. âSo is El part of your name? Or is it your last name?" Invincible leaned back against his seat.
âYâknow Atom Eve asked me the same thing. Iâm not sure. Maybe the super-robots know.â You floated up looking behind him. âHey thirteen, whatâs my last name and whatâs just my name.âÂ
The robot spoke the first part of your name then paused as he brought more snacks, Invincible watched as you eagerly took them. âJor-El is your last name. On Krypton, daughters take their fatherâs full name as their own. Your fatherâs name is Jor-El and thus your last name is Jor-El. Had you been born male, your last name would simply be El.â
âOh.â You hummed as you ate another cracker. âSo if I married and had a daughter namedâŚ.thriteen whatâs a female name for a Kryptonian female?â
âKara is a female Kryptonian name.â
âOkay, so if I had a daughter named Kara and say I married some guy namedâŚ.â You smiled a little too hard. If Invincible hears you say Louis Lane. Heâs gonna barf. âMa-Richard Grayson. Would her name then be Kara Richard-Grayson?â Invincible raised a brow at the name. That was his last name. Not his first name, but his last name. Did you know a Richard? Is Grayson a common last name? Oh my god, what if you both know each other but donât know you both know each other! What if you know him as just Mark Grayson? What if you like Mark Grayson?
Invincible shook his head. Now heâs just stretching it.Â
âTraditionaly. Yes. However, Krypton no longer exists. You may name your daughter after yourself.â Thirteen finished and Invincible watched you lay down on your couch.Â
âA daughter with my name? Kara Jor-El? Or maybe just Kara-El.â You muttered to yourself. âThriteen?â
âYes maâam.âÂ
âIs El a common last name?â You asked and Invincible looked up seeing a cat. You had a cat? He watched it stretch. It was orange. He wouldâve thought you wouldâve had a white cat. It had a cape. Did everyone have a cape?
âNo maâam. The last name El is not common. The House of El was one of the noble ruling families on Krypton.âÂ
You hummed in surprise looking over to Invincible whose brow raised. You came from nobility. Well with a lair like this, of course you did. You were also the only one to avoid the destruction of your planet. To send a pod to earth, he imagines it takes money.Â
His brows furrowed. Thirteen had said âone of the noble ruling families.â Maybe you werenât the only one sent off. But if thatâs the case, where is everyone else?Â
âThe name El translates in Kryptonian to "of the star".â Thirteen spoke again and looked at you.Â
He recalled his earlier thoughts.Â
Like the very stars were in your eyes.
Itâs a fitting name. He smiled.
That smile quickly fell as he watched your orange cat flew over to you. âYou have a super cat!?âÂ
You gave him a smile ready to answer, he stopped you. âIf you say âyou donât?â or âYou canât?â in your little tone, Iâm gonna lose it.â
You gave a little laugh. âDonât you have a super pet?â
For the Moderness of 1400s, what if a scenario about reader is a lesbian?đ Like crushing on wnba players type lesbian. randomly saying she misses her baby and them thinking about her having an actual baby or missing her fav player hooping. And saying random stims from her fav teams( mine is the Washington Mystics) and seeing photos of her and the players in a game taking a picture together
WOOOOOOOOO
Bro, that would be so funny đ If reader were lesbian, I would have it take place in the actual HOTD universe instead of mine, where they're reverting back to their book selves.
I think the dynamic would be between her and Alicent. Bro, everything would be so fire. Alicent living in denial, reader living her truth at the beginning. Resentment would build. Eventually reader is crushed by society bc they are not letting it slide, she's happy and lives in her truth. Just as reader loses her spark, Alicent would gain hers. Bro it'd be a whole thing.
Bro, but you caught me. I don't watch basketballđ I'm more of a volleyball gal.
but her saying just random stims would be so funny đ just like outta nowhere too. Alicent seeing photos and shit, throw in a pic of her kissing another girl.
my favorite type of xreader is when the reader comprises the plot ENTIRELY, and the plot completely derails from the originalâ because i know TOO many, where the reader just conveniently replaces a character and thats it. bonus points if the replaced character becomes an evil jealous bitch that's SO out of character and just plain public execution like đđđđ
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Pairing: Superman!fem!reader x Mark Grayson x Gender bent!Lois Lane (Louis Lane)
Rating: 16+
Not proofread
Warnings: Fighting, PTSD (lemme know if I missed any)
Tags: No use of Y/N, no description of reader
Synopsis: Invincible talks to the Woman of Tomorrow, Mark Grayson also wants to talk to the Woman of Tomorrow. And there also no way you have a crush on Louis! Donât you like Mark? Invincible also learns youâre a lot cooler than he is.
New? Start here
Your mind ran amok. Omni-man got away. He said something.Â
Of course, you werenât completely honest with Cecil. You knew you were Kryptononian and all that other good stuff. You knew Krypton was no more. It sucked, but you never knew Krypton. All you have is your cat, the super-robots, and of course, your top-secret lair.Â
But hey! That's what having a secret identity means. Keeping it a secret. Besides, it wasn't a total lie. The actual planet you knew, you didnât really know it. Only what the super-robots told you. You didnât know how it happened, but the way Omni-Man spoke, you think he knows more than he told you.
Golly, it really knocked you out of sorts! You were pummeled by him. It sure hurt. You were injured far more than with that beast you faced the other day.
But you didnât go back. You failed. You donât even want to know the casualty count. A couple of hundred at least. All because you got caught up in your own head. So instead, you left and headed straight for the sun. It evaporated away your tears of guilt and shame before they even got a chance to spill.Â
You need to do better. You have to do better. People canât get hurt on the account that a couple of words will put you off commission. Your brows furrowed as you looked down to Earth. Your job was to keep people safe, no matter what. Your job was to give people hope, no matter what. When they saw your symbol, theyâd be filled with relief. Not to fear, Superwoman was here!Â
You saw a figure flying towards you. It was Invincible. He had dealt with the brunt of the attack. It seemed more personal with those two than he seemed with you.Â
Your job also meant lending a shoulder to cry on and an ear to listen to all their problems, and being a supporting hand guiding them. You exhaled softly, tucking your own feelings somewhere far away, somewhere quiet, and stepped into that role as easily as breathing.
âHad a good tan? How long have you been out here?â He spoke to you, but was not really speaking. You heard him in your mind. Freaky. Neat! But freaky.Â
âNot long. Just come up sometimes.â You spoke, and his jaw dropped. âBut hey, pretty cool trick with the mind thing.â
His jaw slackened. âYou talk in space!?â
âYou canât?â you asked lightly, tilting your head.
âNo!â
âOh.â You shrugged, like it wasnât much at all. âWell, I can.â You caught the way he started to sweat, even in the stillness. âYou wanna talk on the moon?â
He nodded. So you went.
Now you sit side by side on the pale, endless stretch of gray, Earth in front of you, still rotating ever so slowly. Invincibleâs hands fidgeted in his lap, restless, unsure, while you watched him. A guilt is starting to eat at you. You shouldâve done more. You can do more.Â
Memories flashed of Omni-Man and his words about Krypton. Something about you seeking revenge. For what?Â
âLook,â he started, his voice echoing in your mind, âI wanted to say thanks. For helping with everything.â He glanced at you, then away. âTaking me to the hospital, being there when I woke up, being there for my mom, and everything. You didnât have to, so⌠thank you.â
You turned to him fully then, your expression softening, something warm and steady settling into your gaze. âYou donât have to thank me for that,â you said gently. âYou needed help. Thatâs reason enough.â
âNo, itâs not just that,â Invincible insisted, shaking his head. âYou were there for everything. Everything myâ Omni-man did. You still stayed and helped me. You got beaten up because of me, and despite that, you stayed. Most donât. I donât know if I would.â
âBut I do,â you replied simply, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. âThatâs kind of the point.â
He huffed out a quiet laugh, but it didnât last long. The weight returned quickly, pressing into his shoulders, into the way his hands curled tighter together. âI donât know if Iâm doing any of this right,â he admitted. âBeing⌠this. Being like my dad. Or not like him. I donât even know what thatâs supposed to mean anymore.â
You ignored the huge bombshell dropped on you. Sure, you met his mom, but everyone had a mom. Figured he was adopted, like you were. Not that Omni-Man was his dad. It made sense why things seemed more personal now. You kept your face straight.
You watched him for a moment. He was so young. You were young, too, but it was different. Youâve been in the game (even if it was the little leagues in Smallville) since you were old enough to control your powers. You know what itâs like to carry things your average Joe canât. Know what itâs like to feel the anxiety of letting everything slip from your hands if you loosen your grip, even by a little.Â
âThen donât try to be him,â you said softly. âOr anyone else.â
He frowned faintly. âThatâs not exactly helpful.â
âIt is,â you insisted, your tone still gentle but firmer now. âYouâre not supposed to have all the answers. Youâre just supposed to choose. Wake up every morning and put one foot in front of the other, and try to make the right choice. Over and over again. Even when itâs hard. Especially when itâs hard.â
Mark looked down again, quieter this time. âAnd what if I mess it up?â
âYou will,â you said, without hesitation.
His head snapped up. âWow. Thanks.â
You smiled. âEveryone does.â
âEven you?â
âEspecially me.â You nodded, looking back towards Earth. âBut, thatâs not the part that matters.â You looked back over to him. He had that look on your face, that look on his face that you had whenever you went crying home to your father after messing up. You were lucky enough to have someone to steer you in the right direction.
âThen what does?â he asked.
 If thatâs what Invincible needed, then youâd be that for him.Â
You leaned back slightly, bracing your hands against the cool dust of the moon, eyes drifting up toward Earth. âThat you keep trying anyway,â you said. âBesides, youâre already going in the right direction. You care enough to worry about getting it wrong. People who donât care donât ask those questions.â
He followed your gaze, staring at the distant planet, something in him easing just a little. âYou make it sound simple.â
âWell, Iâve had my own fair share of experiences. Trust me, Iâd be the first to know that itâs not easy.â you admitted. âBut that also means I know just how worth it is.âÂ
There was a silence between the both of you. His voice began once more in your mind. Soft. ââŚDo you ever get tired?âÂ
âSometimes.â You answered. That's not the answer he needed, but it's the honest truth. Of course, you got tired. Sometimes you just wish to have a normal life. Maybe youâd still be with Alan in Smallville. Maybe all those things wouldnât have happened. Maybe your dad would still be alive. âBut, when I look down and see everyone living happy and safe lives, it all passes. I want to give them a better tomorrow. That's why I keep going.âÂ
âŚ
Mark silently ate as William chatted away. Your words kept spinning in his mind. God, you said everything right, but heâs not you.Â
You took hits for him. You gave him a fighting chance. You saved people when he couldnât. Youâre not like him. Youâre just perfect. You say you donât know what to do, but somehow you always make the perfect choice. Why canât Mark be like that?Â
Why can't he be like you?Â
You said get tired, but of course, youâre instantly rejuvenated after what? Looking at people smiling? You were with him when he woke up. Both his legs were broken, and he couldnât walk for three days afterwards. His bruises didnât go away till a week later. When he woke up, all you had were some bruises and a bandage over your nose. A day later, you were as good as new, besides a few scratches.Â
Youâre so goddamn perfect. Â
Mark had only gone to apologize for what you went through, instead it turned into you comforting him. It just came so naturally to want to relax while you were there.Â
Superwoman.Â
Wonderful.Â
Still, there's a part of him that just wants to take shelter under your cape. Youâre strong, but his father had said something to you. He had seen it. Seen how it made you freeze when you gained the upperhand on him. Markâs ears were ringing at the time, so he didnât hear. But he saw your brows furrow and a second later you were punched with everything his dad had. You were sent flying upwards and out of Earthâs atmosphere. Â
He beat you bloody, then slammed you back onto Earth atop a mountain peak. It broke your back.Â
All of that, and in a couple of hours you were standing again.Â
So he knows that if maybe his father hadnât said what he did, maybe you both wouldâve beat him. Beat some sense into him. Youâre stronger than him, and sometimes he just wants to curl underneath your shadow and hide while you face the world without a fear in the world.Â
Do you even have a secret identity? Do you know his? You met his mom, you know who his dad is. Eve only mentioned your last name was âEl.â He tried searching it up. Nothing came up.Â
Mid bite he stopped. What exactly were your powers? Flight, super strength, durability, talking in space. Didnât you need to breathe for that? Could you breathe in space? Could he?Â
If he could, does that mean youâre a Viltrumite?Â
His heart dropped. Were you like his dad?
Does Cecil know anything? Mark doesnât think heâd be able to beat you if you went rogue.
Markâs mind spun until William cut his train of thought off.Â
âHey I saw your pictures on the front page today!â William spoke and nudged you. Mark looked up. Your big glasses, a worn out sweater, your knees tucked in. You looked really small.Â
He almost found it funny.Â
From Superwoman, to you. Such a juxtaposition from one thought to another. Â
The grandeur of Superwoman, to you who is smiling because your picture got the front page. Mark looked away from you as you talked about the shot.Â
Sometimes his head hurts when he looks at you for too long. Your glasses distorted something. Once, you dropped them by accident. You turned around quickly looking for something in your bag. William picked them up looking through them. He asked if you really needed them. They seemed to have no prescription. Mark tried them on. It gave him a headache.Â
You said they were blue light and reading glasses.Â
Still a little odd, but Mark never paid any real attention to you in that way. You were just always there, and heâd never notice when youâd go missing, and if he did, always figured you went elsewhere.Â
You were never around much after school. Always at your internship and Louis, whom Mark is sure, you have a crush on and is reciprocated.Â
Yeah, good for you. (Maybe heâs a little salty because he and Amber broke up.)
âŚ
âIâve lived in a big city all my life, gotten all the best scoops. Whoever I shadowed, I didnât stay in their shadow for long. So Iâm having just a bit of a hard time trying to understand how some yokel from Smallville is suddenly getting every hot story in town and with the best shots to go with it.â Louis sat on your desk with a raised brow.Â
You looked around and smiled. âWell Louis if you want to know so bad,â You watched him lean in. âIâm actually Superwoman in disguise and I wear these glasses, theyâre called hypo-glasses and they subliminally hypnotise you to hide my identity. I became a journalist to hear about disasters as they happen all for my grand plan of squeezing you out of the by-line.âÂ
You watched with glee as with each word you spoke Louisâs face dropped before shaking his head at you. âFine, donât tell me, but youâre a cruel woman Kent.âÂ
âYou asked!â You yelled at him as he walked away. The phone Cecil gave you rang. You were given coordinates and a picture of a giant. You quickly suited up and left. You smiled hearing Louis ran back into your office calling for a race between the two of you for this scoop.Â
You flew beside Robot or Rudy now if you remember right. He told you that it seemed the giant had the mental capacity of an eight year old. Your eyes narrowed as you watched the monster version of monster girl go in for a punch. You caught it and threw him back.Â
âCall your team off Rudy! I got this!â You turned around at the giant.Â
âYouâre on my side?â The giant called out to you. You smiled and nodded.Â
âWhat in fucks name are you doing!? Rex yelled out throwing explosions.
You shielded the giant before you turned around shaking your head. âLanguage!âÂ
You turned around catching the car that was thrown. âI said stop!â You turned around and handed the car to the giant. âHere, put this down gently. Can you do that for me please?â
âWhy?â The giantâs eye narrowed.Â
You offered another smile. âBecause I said the magic word, please.â You watched him think it over while the rest of the guardians all paused. The giant nodded and put the car down. âNow my friends over there told me you want to be president, and wanted to go to space?â You looked over towards Rudy who landed besides the Guardians who were all ready to attack.
âYour friends are mean.â The giant murmured.Â
You nodded. âI know they can be pretty nasty sometimes, but theyâre just doing their job. And their job is to protect people. Youâve hurt people.âÂ
âI didnât mean to.â The giant sat down looking around him. You smiled and floated down to his level.Â
You saw his lip tremble and water build on his waterline. âHey! Hey! Hey! You donât need to cry. Itâs okay, no one was seriously hurt. You just gotta be careful.â You reached out, touching his jaw soothing him. âNow you have to apologize. Own up to your mistakes.â A big fat tear fell from his eye as he cried out an apology. âThatâs good. Now, I donât know about making you president or taking you to space, but I can take as far up as I can without hurting you. You let me know when it starts to hurt or you canât breathe then weâll come down and Iâll show you the white house, yeah?â
The giant clapped causing small rumblings. âWoah okay! I know youâre excited, but I need you to stay still. Youâre big, and theyâre small. You could hurt them. Do you want to hurt them?â
âNo.â
âOkay, then remember, be careful. Iâll be right back.â With that you floated down to the Guardians. Your smile faded off as you looked at them. âWhen I said to stop, that didnât mean throwing explosions,â You looked at Rex who rolled his eyes. âOr cars.â You looked over towards Black Samson who narrowed his eyes at you. You sighed, shaking your head. âAll you had to do was talk to him. He's eight years old.âÂ
âUh Rudy said he had the mind of an eight year old. An eight year old doesnât level city blocks.â Monster girl spoke and you bit your tongue. There are many things you could say, but none of them are nice.Â
âRegardless.â You closed your eyes and shook your head. âAll you had to do was talk to him. In doing so you wouldâve minimized damage to everyone, including yourselves. You all need to think before you act.â You looked over towards Rudy. âEspically you. Youâre the leader of this team, act accordingly.â He showed no signs of understanding. Then again, he was a robot. Or was it now a kid inside a robot suit? Whatever, youâd think about it later. âNow, why donât you all take those who need medical attention to a hospital, or find an ambulance. Iâll handle the rest.âÂ
And with that you left to find Eve, youâd wanted to ask her for something thatâd make it a little easier to carry the giant.Â
âŚ
Having you around made things so much easier, but still, you always come in and save the day, handling his âvilliansâ (Mark thinks itâs corny to call them villains) in a single punch, at most? Two. Well, besides the fact it bruises his ego it also fuels his fear that if you really are Viltrumite or for some reason turn out to be evil, he wonât be able to stop you.
But he really doesnât think you have it in you. That day, when he had to face who knows how many Mauler twins, you left to stop someone from jumping off a building. You left him giving him a smile. Told him that you believed in him and then off you were. He saw it on some random post a day later.
Mark spends a lot of time watching you. You always stop for photos, taking any and all food offerings, helping people with everyday mundane things, like helping people cross the street, or lifting up all the groceries. Heâll catch himself smiling at the deeds you do. It warms his heart.Â
Mark thought his dad was a hero. He wasnât. He hopes you truly are. He doesnât think he can take another heart break like that.Â
However, there is one downside of watching you.Â
Louis Lane.Â
Somehow, someway, where you are, so is Louis. Always with his questions, always with his funny remarks that make you laugh.Â
Not to mention, the dud is always in some kind of trouble! To make matters worse, the guy is a natural flirt, and you bet he takes any chance he gets to flirt with you even if heâs actively being shot at. You, being the perfect, kind, compassionate, warm soul you are, go along with it.Â
âTake cover!â You shouted as you blocked the bullets from hitting Louis. Mark was on the floor twitching from some kind of ray gun they shot him with.Â
They shot some nets holding up a bunch of heavy metal bars. They fell on top of you. You grunted and fell down. Mark shouted out your name. (Course not your actual name, because Mark doesnât know that. Itâs a bitter thought. Also! Superwoman is mouthful. Louis dropped the ball on it. That is what Mark has decided.)
Mark got up as the man took aim, but before Mark could do anything guess who came to steal his thunder? Louis Lane. He had taken some hook that was handing on a line and swung it to hit the man right on his head.Â
And you? You smiled, but not that smile you give everyone else, but that little smile Mark knows you give to Louis. You told him thanks and Louis gave a smart reply that made you grin. Great.Â
After that, you left Mark alone while you took Louis flying. (Removing him from the dangerous situation, sure? But flying nonetheless.)Â
You also came back five minutes later to find Mark with a busted lip, but bad guys apprehended!
Golly! It really does grinds his gears! (He needs to stop hanging out with you so much. Both versions: Kent and Superwoman.)
Despite that, the only thing Mark takes refuge in, is that Louis canât get an exclusive from Superwoman. All of those belong to the person who always beats him in getting the by line. You.Â
You write great papers all about Superwoman. From your papers he learned that you have a cat named Streaky. Where do you even keep the cat?Â
All these weeks later and Mark still has no idea whether or not you have a secret identity. To be fair, you donât know his either. To you, heâs just Invincible. You donât ever ask or prod. Sometimes he wishes you would. He desperately wants to know youâre not here to conquer the world and enslave everyone.Â
So, today is the day he decides heâll find out something about you that isnât from the paper, or from watching you from a distance, but actually talking to you and this time not a conversation where heâs laying out his insecurities in front of you.Â
âHey, you got a minute?â Mark caught up to you as you caught a balloon mid air and floated back down handing it back to the kid that lost it.Â
The kid jumped up and down shouting your name and hugging you. You smiled hugging the kid back before waving bye to everyone and floating back up next to his side. âYeah, I got a minute, whatâs up!âÂ
You smiled at him and he paused. He never realised just how bright(?âNo, thatâs not the right word. The right word is inhuman, but that sounds mean.) The vividness of them. As if the stars themselves were inside your eyes. You couldnât possibly have a secret identity. Heâd recognize your eyes anywhere. âI wanted to ask you a question. Kinda personal.â
âTo the moon then?â You asked looking up. Guess that was your spot with him now. He nodded and up you both went.
âSo, whatâs up.â You landed on the moon, dust floated up. Mark followed.
âLook, Iâm not accusing you of anything, I swear. Itâs just thatâŚâ He tried to say this in a way you wouldnât take offense. But honestly, how could you not take offense? You put yourself out there for him and here he was asking if youâre like his dad. âWhat Iâm trying to say, is thatâŚâ He rolled around a rock under his heel, unable to look you in the eye and ask. It felt wrong. âYouâre here toâŚyâknow? Conquer it or anythingâŚright?â
Way to go Mark. Put it right out there as he figuratively (it feels like heâs done it physically too) spits in your face and drags your name through the mud. But even if you were here for that, would you tell him?
Your hand lands on his shoulder. Itâs soft. Light. He knows youâre capable of more. He looks up and youâre offering one of those comforting smiles that so many seek refuge in. âNo, Iâm not here to conquer, or rule, or anything else. Iâm only here to help. I have no ulterior motives, I swear.â Then your lips purse and your brow raises. Mark stays still. âUnless itâs flying in the proximity of a place that sells crab cakes in hopes they shout out my name and I get a free meal out of it. If so, then you caught me red handed.â You give a small embarrassed laugh and play with the ends of your cape. âBut look! I got a good reason for it!âÂ
Mark just stands there. Youâre here admitting to your guilt of accepting free meals while his mind is finding all the ways he could try (and fail) to stop you.Â
âActually I donât. I donât even need to eat food. I just like to.â You begin rambling and Mark can only laugh at himself. âHonestly, itâs bad. I mean this is a total abuse of my power! I know itâs wrong, but I just really like crab. Specialically in the form of cake. I should really start paying, but Iâm not exactly rich yâknow? If I ate as many crab cakes as I wanted and paid. Iâd go broke in a day!âÂ
Wait? So you did have a job? That means a secret identity! Or that maybe the government pays you. But if that were the case, why would it matter if you went broke? âIâm not gonna bust you for eating crab cakes.âÂ
âOh.â
âItâs just that I donât know anything about you. Not your name, not where youâre from. Nothing. And it doesnât help that you can do everything I can do, but better! I donât even know if youâre a Viltrumite! And with everything that happened with my dad, I guess Iâm just a little paranoid.â Mark plopped down on a rock exhausted. Â
You went to take a seat next to him. âI know things can be scary, but I can promise you that Iâm not here to do anything like that. All I want to do is give people a better tomorrow.â You paused for a moment and Mark looked over to you as you looked towards Earth. âI canât tell you my secret identity because I have people that I care for and love and any connection to me can put them in danger.â
Mark began to take off his mask. âAnd if only I knew? I can show you who I am and only Iâll know who you are.âÂ
You hand stopped him with a sympathetic smile. âItâs not that I donât trust you, itâs just that I canât risk it. Itâs not something Iâm willing to do. Iâm sorry, Invincible.â You pulled his mask down. âBesides, I want to keep my superhero life separate from my personal life. What happens if I see you walking down the street? Then I react and Iâm assuming with everything, Cecil is keeping a close eye on you, then it comprises me.âÂ
So Cecil doesnât even know. That doesnât make him feel better. He looks at you and he can tell you know he just isnât at ease. He feels bad pressuring you, but youâre just so good. Youâre too good to be true. His heart, his mind, his soul, the hundred of lives he cost, just doesnât allow him to trust you blindly in the way he did with his father. God, his dad really did a number on him.Â
You stood up offering your hand to him. âI canât tell you everything, but I can tell you enough.âÂ
Invincible took it and together you both flew to the North pole. You both landed and Invincible raised a brow. You only gave him a knowing smile before taking a step forward. The ground rumbled and out came crystals. He only watched in awe as it sprouted to its full glory. âCome on! Iâll show you inside.â
âYou have a secret lair!?â Invincible shouted running over to you falling in step beside you.Â
âYou donât?â You raised a brow and Invincible was left gaping.Â
âNo!â Of course he didnât have one. He wishes he did. This is SICK!
 âOh, well, itâs called the Fortress of Solitude.â You raised your hand to the big door which had the outline of your symbol on its door. He watched as the symbol lit up and opened. âI came up with it myself.â You nodded with a grin on your face.
âThatâs a sick name.â Invincible spoke trying to get a peak inside. You know for such a place, the doors did open slowly. Sure it works now for dramatic effects, but itâs gotta get tiring at some point no?
âRight!? I was so proud of myself when I came up with it!â You walked inside and Markâs brows furrowed.Â
âWelcome back Superwoman!â A voice called out.Â
Invincible jumped. He didnât think anyone else would be in here. He watched three figures step out from behind the large crystal wall. They looked off, they looked likeâ
âHey! Thirteen, eight, three!â You greeted them and then a fourth came out.
Invincible stood in shock. Are you kidding? You had sentient robots? Each with a number on their chests with the outline of your crest? Each with a blue cape? They also looked from the past, yet also the future. This was really cool.Â
âSuper-robots, meet Invincible." You stepped aside as they all waved. âInvincble, meet my super-robots.âÂ
âHey.â He waved then turned to you. âYou have super-robots!?â He whisper-yelled.
âWell yeah, theyâre standing right there.â You raised a brow.Â
âMeet four, sheâs new.â Thirteen spoke and Invincible turned to the fourth one that came with a four on her(?) chest.Â
âHey.â You smiled and waved.Â
The robotâs mouth glowed with every word. It blinked too. He could almost tell she was happy despite no indication of facial expressions. Though it was all but confirmed when she giggled making a comment that you looked at her.Â
You turned to him walking through the fortress. The architecture is unlike anything heâs ever seen. Invincible doesnât even want to mention the technology. You had asked the super-robots to get you both something to drink.Â
âThank you.â Invincible to the cup in his hands looking down towards the beverage. He didnât know what it was, but it smelled good.Â
âNo need to thank us sir as we will not appreciate it. We have no conscience whatsoever, merely admonitions here to serve.â The robot spoke before walking away. He looked over to you. You only told him that you get used to it.Â
You took a sip before looking at him. âYou said you thought I was from Viltrum. Iâm not. Iâm from Krypton. A planet that is gone now. It was destroyed.â You set down your drink and walked over to a wall. âHey eight?â
âYes maâam?â
âCan you play my parentâs message?â You offered him your hand and walked him back.Â
âOf course maâam.â
Invincible watched as a hologram appeared. A man and a woman, there both dressed in regal dressing, all white. The resemblance between you and them was clear as day. The message began. It glitched once before going once more. He couldnât understand a thing other than one word. Krypton. Then the message began to glitch. It glitched a total of five more times before the message restarted.
âThe message was damaged in transit from Krypton." You murmured before turning around. âEight, translate please.âÂ
âYes maâam.â The message relooped and began once more. âWe love you more than heaven, our daughter. We love you more than land. Our beloved home will soon be gone forever, but hope vitalizes our heart, and that hope is you.â Something -El followed. Invincible turned to you and looked up to your parents. Your name was said. You had told him your name. âWe have searched the universe for a home where you can do the most good and live out Kryptonâs truth. That place is Earth.â
âThe rest of the message is lost.â You sat down as the holograms disappeared. âMy parents sent me here to do good. So thatâs what Iâm doing. I want to give people hope. Thatâs the only thing I want.â
Invincible felt more at ease with those words. He nodded as sat next to you. âAnd crab cakes.â
You laughed, nudging him with your shoulder, nodding. âAnd crab cakes.â
He muttered out your name. You turned to him. âSo thatâs your name?â
âYeah, but people donât really call me that.â You added nothing else and Invincible didnât ask anything more about it. You had already said your secret identity isnât something you want anyone to know. Not even him. Itâs a bitter thought, and an even more bitter feeling.Â
âSo what can Kryptonians do?â Invincible asked, sitting up straighter, a grin breaking across his face. âBesides flight and super strength and durability.â
âNothing special, really,â you replied with a small shrug, tapping your chin as you thought. âBasically what you can do, I think. I have super hearing.â
Invincible nodded quickly.
âSuper smell,â you added.
He kept nodding, eyes widening slightly.
âSuper vision. Basically the six senses, theyâre just enhanced.â
He leaned forward a little. âWait. How enhanced?â
You hummed softly, glancing up as if measuring the distance in your mind. âFrom the edge of the troposphere, I can see astronauts as if they were standing right in front of me.â
âWhat!?â Invincible blurted, nearly jumping.
You blinked at him. âYou canât?â
âNo!â
âOh.â You shrugged lightly. âWell⌠can you see subatomic particles?â
âWhat!? No!â he said, incredulous.
âOh.â You tilted your head. âI can.â
âWhat else!?â Invincible pressed, leaning even closer now.
âI donât need to eat, or breathe, or drink,â you said simply.
âWhat!?â He ran a hand through his hair. âWait, what else can you do with your vision?â
âUmâŚâ you glanced off to the side, thinking. âI can see the electromagnetic spectrum. I can see and identify radio or television, any and all broadcast and transmitted frequencies. It lets me avoid detection through radar or satellites. I can also trace cell-phone signals.â You gave a small shrug. âCanât you?â
âNo!â Invincible said, almost offended.
âThen how do you stay hidden?â you asked, genuinely curious.
âI donât,â he admitted. âCecil knows my moves.â
âWell,â you said, a faint smile tugging at your lips, âhe doesnât know where you are right now. That I can tell you.â
Invincible paused, then huffed. âOkay⌠what else?â
âI have X-ray vision,â you added.
He narrowed his eyes slightly. âSo you can see who I am?â
âNot right now,â you said calmly. âI can activate it, but I donât use it often. I respect peopleâs privacy.â
âThatâs⌠good,â he muttered.
âOh! And I also have thermal vision and heat vision,â you continued.
âWhatâs the difference?â Invincible asked.
âI can see heat signatures,â you explained, âand the otherâŚI shoot lasers.â
âWhat!?â he groaned, throwing his hands up. âThis isnât fair! Why do you get all these cool powers and I just have super strength and flight!â
âNot true,â you said, shaking your head gently. âYour atoms arenât the same as everyone elseâs. Theyâre different.â
Invincible frowned. âWhat does that even mean?â
âYour physiology is unlike anything Iâve ever seen,â you continued, your tone thoughtful now. âYour atoms⌠they have variable properties. Your body arranges them in a way that amplifies your abilities to an extreme degree.â
He blinked. âOkayâŚ?â
âYour flight, for example,â you said, gesturing slightly toward him. âItâs different from mine. Thereâs a complex balancing system in your inner ears. It generates inertia. I canât do that.â
Invincible stared at you for a second, then slumped slightly. âStill not as cool as having heat vision.â
You let out a quiet laugh, the sound soft against the crystalline walls. âI think itâs cooler,â you said gently.
Invincible huffed. He didnât even want to know anything else. So he changed the subject. âSo is El part of your name? Or is it your last name?" Invincible leaned back against his seat.
âYâknow Atom Eve asked me the same thing. Iâm not sure. Maybe the super-robots know.â You floated up looking behind him. âHey thirteen, whatâs my last name and whatâs just my name.âÂ
The robot spoke the first part of your name then paused as he brought more snacks, Invincible watched as you eagerly took them. âJor-El is your last name. On Krypton, daughters take their fatherâs full name as their own. Your fatherâs name is Jor-El and thus your last name is Jor-El. Had you been born male, your last name would simply be El.â
âOh.â You hummed as you ate another cracker. âSo if I married and had a daughter namedâŚ.thriteen whatâs a female name for a Kryptonian female?â
âKara is a female Kryptonian name.â
âOkay, so if I had a daughter named Kara and say I married some guy namedâŚ.â You smiled a little too hard. If Invincible hears you say Louis Lane. Heâs gonna barf. âMa-Richard Grayson. Would her name then be Kara Richard-Grayson?â Invincible raised a brow at the name. That was his last name. Not his first name, but his last name. Did you know a Richard? Is Grayson a common last name? Oh my god, what if you both know each other but donât know you both know each other! What if you know him as just Mark Grayson? What if you like Mark Grayson?
Invincible shook his head. Now heâs just stretching it.Â
âTraditionaly. Yes. However, Krypton no longer exists. You may name your daughter after yourself.â Thirteen finished and Invincible watched you lay down on your couch.Â
âA daughter with my name? Kara Jor-El? Or maybe just Kara-El.â You muttered to yourself. âThriteen?â
âYes maâam.âÂ
âIs El a common last name?â You asked and Invincible looked up seeing a cat. You had a cat? He watched it stretch. It was orange. He wouldâve thought you wouldâve had a white cat. It had a cape. Did everyone have a cape?
âNo maâam. The last name El is not common. The House of El was one of the noble ruling families on Krypton.âÂ
You hummed in surprise looking over to Invincible whose brow raised. You came from nobility. Well with a lair like this, of course you did. You were also the only one to avoid the destruction of your planet. To send a pod to earth, he imagines it takes money.Â
His brows furrowed. Thirteen had said âone of the noble ruling families.â Maybe you werenât the only one sent off. But if thatâs the case, where is everyone else?Â
âThe name El translates in Kryptonian to "of the star".â Thirteen spoke again and looked at you.Â
He recalled his earlier thoughts.Â
Like the very stars were in your eyes.
Itâs a fitting name. He smiled.
That smile quickly fell as he watched your orange cat flew over to you. âYou have a super cat!?âÂ
You gave him a smile ready to answer, he stopped you. âIf you say âyou donât?â or âYou canât?â in your little tone, Iâm gonna lose it.â
You gave a little laugh. âDonât you have a super pet?â
Summary: You were an insufferable mess, but that didnât stop Mark from wanting to get closer to you. So he did the only thing he could think of: he turned to his old friend Invincible to finally coax you out of your shell.
Think your life was tough? Try surviving a day in high school while pretending you werenât having a full-blown existential crisis, and trying to fulfill everyoneâs expectations at the same time. Everything was a disaster. Your brain said one thing, your heart screamed another. So really, who could blame you for being such a brat? It wasnât entirely your fault, clearly.
The only halfway decent excuse for why you became so insufferable was that you were basically half an orphan. Or at least, thatâs how you liked to put it. The moment your mom walked out on you and your dad, claiming sheâd missed out on life by getting pregnant in her senior year of high school, she might as well have been dead to you. You didnât miss her. Really, you didnât.
It wasnât like there was much to miss.
Her disdain for kids (or maybe just for you specifically) had never exactly been subtle. You couldnât even remember her giving you something as simple as a hug. Or a smile. Or anything that vaguely resembled what a mother was supposed to give her child. So when she cleaned out the joint bank account and vanished without a word, it wasnât even that surprising. Disappointing? Kinda. But shocking? Not in the slightest. Why she didnât leave earlier was a bigger mystery to you. That would've saved you a lot of unresolved mommy issues, for sure.
Thatâs why you were the way you were. And it didnât help that your dad tried to make up for her complete lack of parenting all your childhood by being the most emotionally available, open-minded, âcoolâ parent to walk the planet. He even took some online parenting classes a few years ago, and things only got worse from there.
âIâm so proud of you.â
âIâll always support you.â
âDo you want to talk about how youâre feeling today?â
Nothing objectively terrible, you admitted. And yet, that rage inside you refused to settle, even when he tried so hard to fill the hole your mom left behind. Stupid, right? You didnât want her in your life, and here was the best dad imaginable, trying everything to connect with you, his only daughter⌠and still, you couldnât bring yourself to meet him halfway. You didnât even know why.
That immature mess of feelings, the anger, confusion, and pride, clouded your judgment. Itâs what made you ignore his desperate, awkward attempts at bonding. Heâd eat alone in the dining room, watch TV by himself, and go on walks solo, while you stayed holed up in your room by yourself, sinking deeper and deeper into self-pity.
Which is probably how you ended up here: sitting in some overpriced, fancy restaurant youâd never set foot in by choice, forced into a tight dress instead of your usual baggy hoodie, poking at a plate of Australian wagyu.
âI heard from your dad that you got a full-ride scholarship to Upstate,â a voice said, snapping you out of your thoughts. âYou mustâve worked really hard for that.â
You glanced up from your plate, locking eyes with the middle-aged woman across the table. She was smiling warmly at you, but you couldnât quite return the gesture.
Youâd already forgotten her name. Delia? Daphne? Something that started with a D, you were pretty sure.
A week ago, your dad had sat you down on the couch and dramatically taken your hand in his. For a brief second, you actually thought he was about to drop something devastating, judging by the way he was acting.
Maybe heâd lost his job, and youâd have to sell the house and move away. Or maybe he had a secret gambling addiction and now you had to flee from all the people that he owed money to. Or worse, Grandma had passed, and no one had told you yet. Grim scenarios spun through your head, each one darker than the last, and for the first time in a long while, something other than that dull, monotone apathy stirred in your chest.
But then he said he was seeing someone. And even though no one had died, something twisted in your stomach in a way that felt pretty close.
Not that it shouldâve been a shock. Youâd known he was lonely. Ever since Mom left, it was obvious. Painfully so. And itâs not like you were much help in that regard, either. You barely spoke to him anymore. So, really, it was only a matter of time before he picked himself up, dusted off the whole high-school-sweetheart-divorce thing, and reentered the dating scene.
You should have seen it coming.
He met her at some work event, apparently. Said she was smart, kind, and made him happy. That was the pitch, anyway.
And despite your usual indifference, you did love your dad. You really did. But being a moody teenager, that wasnât always something you could say out loud. So instead, you showed it in small ways, like the time he hugged you on your birthday, tears in his eyes, barely able to contain how proud he was to see âhis little girlâ growing up. You didnât pull away. And by your standards, that was a pretty big sign of love, just so we're clear. Thatâs why agreeing to this dinner, to meet his new girlfriend, felt like proof of how much he meant to you.
Because this was hell.
You hated meeting new people. Especially people who might become your new mom. You hated pretentious restaurants with dress codes and fifteen-course menus with ridiculously tiny portions. You even found yourself irrationally hating the overly chipper server who swung by every five minutes with the same fake smile, asking, âHowâs everything tasting?â
Absolutely everything about this was a complete nightmareâhorrible, terrible, there wasnât a single word in the whole encyclopaedia that could describe how awful this situation was. Youâd never missed the quiet of your room more than you did right now.
âShe won every spelling bee in elementary school and took first place in every science fair,â your dad chimed in, grinning from ear to ear as he set down his fork and knife. âSheâs always been the smart one.â
You tried not to roll your eyes, but the grimace tugging at your lips was hard to fight.
When was the last time you saw him like that? The way his eyes lit up when he introduced you to her. The way his whole face softened when she made a joke. How his expression got all stupid and soft every time you said something remotely polite to her. A couple of years ago, maybe? Back when Mom was still around?
So, you swallowed your pride, bit your tongue, and decided to ride it out. Just for tonight, you told yourself.
You shrugged silently as your dad gave you a light pat on the shoulder.
âThatâs amazing!â the woman said, her smile somehow stretching even wider. âThis guy here could definitely learn a thing or two from you.â
Your eyes flicked to the boy sitting next to her, who immediately went pale as his mother gestured to him with a nod of her head. Still mid-bite, he awkwardly chewed and swallowed. Her son. Same age as you. Mark⌠or was it Matt? Something painfully ordinary.
He looked like your typical shy nerd: scrawny and a little hunched. He probably owned a collection of graphic tees with bad puns printed on them. Definitely not someone youâd ever talk to voluntarily. Not that you thought you were better than him.
When he finally swallowed, he gave a nervous smile and glanced at his mom before speaking.
âIâve still got a couple of months until graduation. Maybe I can pull my grades up before then,â he said, scratching the back of his neck.
They laughed and exchanged a few light jokes that werenât funny. You werenât listening anyway.
College was just around the corner. Youâd go to Upstate, graduate top of your class, then settle into a painfully average life as an office workerâjust like your dad had. Not exactly something worth looking forward to, in your opinion. You couldnât share their enthusiasm, but you bit back any snarky remark.
You settled back, staring down at your plate, when your name was being called again.
You looked up, lifting your chin from your palm.
It was your dad.
His eyebrows were drawn together, and his lips held a strained half-smile. You knew that look all too well.
âMaybe you could help Mark with some of his assignments?â he asked, nodding toward the boy across from you.
Your face twisted into an instant frown. Tutoring was already bad when it was for kidsâyouâd only done it during summer to make some quick cash for those limited edition shoes you wanted. The stupid questions, the growing impatience when they still wouldnât get it after explaining it over and over and over again⌠Not to mention the shit pay. Doing it with someone your own age sounded even worse. You wouldnât do it, even if your life depended on it.
Definitely not.
You opened your mouth to decline, to tell him that youâd rather choke on your steak than tutor that dimwit, but your dad was watching you so earnestly and the words stuck in your throat. Then, involuntarily, you thought of all the times heâd sat alone on the couch, eating popcorn and watching reruns of trashy reality shows that you outgrew of. His sad smile, whenever the two would talk about the day youâd eventually move out for college, leaving him behind all by himself. Of the mornings he woke up with red eyes, still hurting from the way your mom left without a warning.
The memory of it stung. You hated that feeling.
A simple ânoâ wouldâve done the job. A shake of your head. Even a shrug wouldâve sufficed. But instead, you nodded, just barely, and gave the faintest smile.
Your dadâs face lit up as he turned back to his girlfriend and her son, completely unaware of the storm churning in your chest. And all you could do was sit there and quietly curse yourself.
The rest of the night dragged by just as painfully slow, and you couldnât imagine the dinner getting any worseâuntil you found yourself standing outside the restaurant with the girlfriendâs son, waiting for your parents to bring the car around.
Neither of you spoke, and you hoped it would stay that way. Even though youâd barely listened to him mumbling through dinner, youâd already decided there was nothing between you that could carry a decent conversation. There was no way you were going to keep pretending to get along with him when this whole date had already been exhausting enough.
All you wanted was to go home, crawl into bed, and never see him or his mother again.
But things never really went your way. Of course, they didnât.
So when you heard him clear his throat, a not-so-subtle attempt to get your attention, you werenât even surprised.
âThanks for the offer, by the way,â he said. âThe tutoring. Youâre really saving me.â
âDonât mention it,â you replied flatly.
âYour dad seems nice,â he added. âMy momâs already told me a lot about him.â
You hummed, unable to hide the disinterest in your voice any longer. This was torture.
A brief silence followed, and for a moment, you thought he might have finally taken the hint and pieced together your lack of enthusiasm with the painfully obvious signals in your body language. But apparently, just like his academic performance, his social awareness wasnât exactly stellar.
âI havenât seen her this happy in a while.â He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. âShe was really nervous about meeting you, tooââ
âHey.â You cut him off. Your voice came out much sterner than you intended, and the surprise on his face made it clear he hadnât expected it, too.
Your gaze flicked over him, catching the way he fidgeted where he stood. It only made you roll your eyes again.
âLook, Mattââ
âItâs Mark.â
There was a moment of awkward silence. You ignored it and continued.
âLetâs not start this whole âhappy familyâ thing,â you said. âItâs not like we donât both know weâre only doing this,â you gestured between the two of you, âfor our parentsâ sake. So letâs just not.â
The stupid grin on his face slowly faded as your words sank in. Maybe someone else wouldâve felt bad for crushing this poor boyâs idea of some perfect patchwork family, but his kicked-puppy expression did nothing for you. If anything, it only made the irritation simmering inside you even worse.
âWhatâs wrong with trying to get along?â Mark asked, and you were surprised he was still pushing. âIâm just trying to be nice.â
You scoffed.
âIâm moving out in a few months anyway,â you said. âWe wonât have to deal with each other for much longer, so donât bother.â
You opened your clutch and started rummaging through it, searching for your earphones. That shouldâve been enough, even for someone as socially inept as Matt, to signal that the conversation was over. How far away had your dad parked the car, anyway? If he didnât show up soon, you were actually going to lose it.
âYou donât have to be such an asshole about it,â he muttered, his voice low enough that you almost didnât catch it.
You shouldâve ignored it. You knew you should have. He was just being a naĂŻve, overly sensitive baby. But the anger that had been building all night finally tipped over, and before you could stop yourself, you turned back around.
âOh, donât pretend you donât hate this,â you shot back. âJust because youâre trying to suck up to your mom doesnât make you better than me.â
âAt least Iâm not a miserable mess like you.â His voice cut clearly through the air; far more confident than it had been all night.
Then, thick silence settled over you, the atmosphere tense and heavy, but neither of you looked away. Your eyes widened, your hands curling into fists at your sides.
You had tried.
You really had.
But it wasnât your fault your dadâs girlfriend had raised such a dick. So whatever came out of your mouth next was completely justified, as far as you were concerned. The insults spilled out before you could stop them, one after another, even as your dad finally pulled up.
âAnd just so weâre clearââ you yanked the car door open and raised your middle finger, holding it up in Markâs direction. You didnât even wait for a response before dropping into the passenger seat and slamming the door shut with a loud bang.
You were grounded for the next two weeks afterward.