#todd williams

✨Part Four✨

(Mark Grayson x GN!Reader)

✨Part One | Part Two | Part Three ✨

Word Count: 2,575

Chapter Debrief: Mark has an epiphany and you’re starting to find cracks in your relationship with Todd.

Case Notes: I am so sorry for the long wait for this update! The next chapter will be the final part in the series and hopefully it’ll be a conclusion you will all enjoy. Anyways, here’s part four. Special shout outs to @jellibean420 and @splodencible for talking through this chapter with me. Love you both immensely.

The punching bag swings back toward him.

THWACK.

Mark drives his fist into it again, harder this time, the heavy bag jerking violently against its chain before swinging back.

It doesn’t help. Nothing has. Not patrol, Not training, Not throwing himself at every asteroid hurdling somewhat towards Earth’s atmosphere.

The gym echoes with another thud as his fist connects.

Across the room, William glances up from where he’s pretending to stretch out on a yoga mat.

“You know,” he calls casually, “those bags never actually hit you first.”

Mark ignores him, throwing another punch at the bag. Another, and thrice more,The chain groans overhead, like a ghoul.

William sighs dramatically, abandoning his mat entirely before wandering over to Mark, “You’ve been beating the crap out of that thing for forty-five minutes.”

Mark doesn’t respond, the right chords of muscle in his back fighting against the material of his shirt as he throws another punch.

“…Should I call someone?”

Still nothing, no response. William folds his arms, watching as Mark takes his emotions out on the bag, “So. You gonna tell me why you’ve looked like somebody kicked your puppy for the last…He checks an imaginary watch, “… three weeks?”

Mark finally stops, huffing out a breath as he catches the bag and stops its swing. He rests his forehead against the punching bag, breathing hard, “… Y/N’s dating Todd.”

William blinks before gasping scandalized, “Todd Williams?”

“Todd fucking Williams, dude.”

“The football guy? The one who used to make fun of them for following you around? Todd that kicked your ass sooooo many times?”

“William.”

“I’m just making sure we’re talking about the same Todd!”

Mark groans, stepping back from the bag, and throwing his hands up, “They picked Todd.”

William studies him for a long second, lips pursing as he cocks his head to the side, “…Didn’t you reject her?”

Mark freezes and his eyebrows knit together, “That’s not what happened.”

William gives him a look, “The version I heard from both of you was: They told you they loved you…”He begins counting on his fingers, lifting his fingers one after another, “…you said you didn’t feel the same… you left them crying…in a parking lot… at night …then didn’t talk to them for weeks. So… that’s kinda exactly what happened.”

Mark rubs both hands over his face, groaning into his palms, “I was trying to give her space.”

“You gave her the entire state of Illinois, mark!”

“I didn’t know what to do!”Mark lets out a frustrated sound somewhere between a groan and a growl, leaning back against the wall, “I tried apologizing. I bought flowers.”

“…Good.”

“I went to her house.”

“…Also good.”

“And then I found Todd in her bed.”

William’s eyebrows shoot upward, “…. Well. That probably complicated things.”

“It complicated everything.”Mark responds.

“So…” William says carefully, and Mark sighs dramatically, already aware of what’s to come, “Let’s review. You rejected them.”

“I didn’t reject—”

“You didn’t return their feelings. You left them crying in a parking lot— at night, mind you. Then you just ghosted them for weeks. Theeeen when you decided you missed them and wanted to fix things you show up unannounced and got mad they were busy kissing someone else when you got there.”

The silence that follows is almost impressive. Mark opens his mouth to explain, why he wasn’t in the wrong, but no argument is expressed.

“You don’t even hear it, do you?” Wiliiam asks, worried for a brief moment he isn’t getting through to his thick headed friend.

Mark’s shoulders slump, “I wanted to apologize, but I hate seeing Todd with her.”

William’s eyes narrow, “… Why?”

Mark blinks, looking befuddled by the question, “What do you mean why? Because it’s Todd!”

William waits, expecting Mark to provide better explanation, “… And?”

“He treated us like crap. And now he’s…”Mark gestures helplessly, “… there. With his hands all over them.”

William nods slowly, “and?”

Mark stares at him, “I don’t know what answer you want.”

“The honest one.”

“I am being honest.”

“No.”William shakes his head, pushing his hand back through his hair in frustration, “You’re telling me everything except the one thing that’s actually bothering you.”

Mark frowns, “What are you talking about?”

William studies him for another long moment, then sighs. Deeply. Like a man accepting that he’s about to explain algebra to a particularly lovable golden retriever, “When you saw Todd kissing Y/N… were you upset because it was Todd? … Or because someone else was kissing Y/N?”

Mark looks like a fish out of water again, mouth opening and closing. His heartbeat suddenly feels very loud and he rubs his palms against the fabric of his pants.

William watches realization threaten to surface, watches the emotions as they almost bubble before Mark shakes his head, swatting the idea away like an annoying gnat in summer heat, “That’s not—“

William groans. Loudly, “Dude.” He points an accusing finger at Mark, “I have watched you mope around for almost two months. What exactly is not clicking in that super-powered head of yours?”

Mark just stares at William whos metaphorically twisting his arm to face what his actual feelings are. Mark finds himself confused. Exhausted. Heart pounding for reasons he’s still trying to refuse name, “… I miss my best friend.”

🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀

The diner is loud. Not obnoxiously loud. Just comfortably alive.

Silverware clinks against ceramic plates. Someone in the corner laughs loud enough to turn a few heads before immediately apologizing. The coffee machine hisses behind the counter, filling the room with the smell of roasted beans and vanilla syrup.

It feels… normal. For the first time in months, normal doesn’t hurt quite so much now. Todd slides into the booth across from you, setting down two milkshakes with an unnecessarily dramatic flourish.

“One chocolate.” He pushes it toward you, “And one strawberry.”

You grin, but look a bit confused, “I didn’t order chocolate.”

Todd blinks, making a motion at your sweet treat, “… yeah ya did.”

You shake your head, still a bit polite, “I definitely didn’t. I don’t like chocolate ice cream. I asked for chocolate chip.”

“Huh. I mean it’s still got chocolate in it.” He scratches the back of his neck with an embarrassed laugh.

“I mean, It’s different things, but okay.”you say, a bit passive aggressive, the glass infront of you starting to sweat.

A tiny pang settles somewhere behind your ribs. Mark knew. Without asking. He’d been ordering your milkshake before you’d even sat down for years now. Practically your entire friendship. You push the thought away before it has a chance to grow roots.

Todd takes a drink of his milkshake while you talk, stirring the metal spoon in his glass when he finishes, “do you like strawberry? I’ll trade you then.”

You willingly accept his trade, pushing yours towards him, fingers brushing as he hands you yours.

Todd smiles, “Crisis averted.”

The conversation picks back up easily enough. Work. Movies. A customer who walked into the convenience store wearing a bathrobe and confidently tried to pay for chips with Canadian coins.

Todd is funny. He’s way easier to be around now that he’s matured since high school. He’s Attentive, he asks questions and he listens to your answers. He’s trying to grow a relationship with you that you appreciate.

Maybe that’s enough. Yourself from a few years back would be in disbelief, but maybe people really can change.

🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀

After dinner, the two of you wander through the small downtown strip, shoulder to shoulder. The evening air is warm, carrying the scent of fresh rain from earlier that afternoon.

Todd reaches for your hand and you let him, lacing fingers together. His thumb brushes across your knuckles. You sigh, content, a smile pulling at your lips.

“You’ve been smiling more lately,” he says.

You glance over, curious from the comment, “Have I?”

“Yeah.” His lips quirk up, pulling your entertained hands to his mouth and pressing a kiss to the back of yours, “It’s nice.”

Something soft settles in your chest. Maybe this is okay. Maybe you’re really going to be okay.

You pass the little florist on the corner. The same one Mark got that bouquet for you from. The same bouquet sets in the window and catch’s your gaze. Bright yellow flowers. Tiny suns.

For just a heartbeat, you stop walking. Todd notices, of course, “You like those?”

You blink, looking away , “…Yeah. They’re my favorites. Have been since—“

“They’re cute.” Todd interrupts.

Cute. The word lands strangely. Before you can dwell on it, Todd nudges your shoulder, gently pulling you along, “C’mon.”

You keep walking.

🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀

A few blocks later, you duck into a sporting goods store because Todd wants to “just look. You already know what that means though after spending the last few months with him.

Twenty minutes later, he’s comparing baseball gloves like they’re life-changing investments.

You wander a few aisles away. A little girl, maybe seven years old, struggles to reach a basketball balanced on the top shelf.

You smile, bending over to her height, “Need some help, sweetie?”

She nods enthusiastically. You straighten and grab the ball, handing it down to her.

Her face lights up, “Thank you!”

“You’re welcome.”

Her dad wanders over from the end of the aisle and offers a grateful smile before they disappear toward the register.

When you catch back up with Todd, he’s watching them leave.

“What?” You ask, catching the odd look on his face.

He snorts, “You’re such a people pleaser.”

You blink, “What?”

“I mean…” He shrugs, “You don’t have to help everybody. Her dad would have gotten to her.”

“It took two seconds.”

“I know.”He laughs, heavy arm thrown over your shoulder as he pulls you into his side, “I’m just saying… you kinda let people walk all over you.”

The words aren’t cruel, exactly. Just… jeering, as he guides you to the register as well

“I don’t think helping a kid reach a basketball means I’m getting walked on.”

Todd chuckles, “whatever you say, babe.”

The conversation moves on. But something small catches in your chest, like a loose thread on a sweater, you’re afraid to pull because everything will unravel.

🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀

Later, you’re both sitting on a park bench sharing fries. Todd steals the last one.

You gasp dramatically, “My fry.”

He grins, “Should’ve been faster, babe.”

You bump his shoulder, “Rude.”

He laughs and his phone buzzes, pulling his attention from the playful banter, he glances down.

“What?” You ask curiously, and he silences you with a finger, taking his call.

The conversation isn’t long, Todd barely speaking, but you’re unable to hear whoever is on the other end was.

“It’s Brandon.”He says when he ends the call without reading the notification, “Wants me to come watch the game.”

“You already made plans with me.” You say back to him, eyebrows knitting together and a pout gracing your lips

Todd shrugs, reaching over to brush hair away from your face, “I mean… I’ve seen you all week.”

The sentence hangs there, oddly. And he notices your displeased expression and laughs, “What?”

“Nothing, Todd.” You huff, your eyes rolling.

“No, what?”

“… you do this a lot. You make plans with me and we will be actively in the middle of doing something and if Brandon calls— you’re gone..”

He rolls his eyes, “You’re reading way too much into it.”

Maybe you are, but still… The words sit strangely. Because there was a time not very long ago when someone else kept choosing another person over you.

You shove the comparison away almost as soon as it appears. Todd isn’t Mark. This isn’t that. Todd loves you. He’s said so, and he means it. Romantically. Not in the platonic way Mark had always meant it.

🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀

As he walks you home, Todd slips an arm around your shoulders, tucking you against him again, “You think too much.”

You laugh softly, the irony of him noticing how the gears won’t stop turning, “I’ve been told.”

“I’ll fix that.”

You look up at him, “What does that mean?”

“It means…”he smirks, one finger taps your forehead lightly, “I’m gonna get you to relax.”

The gesture is playful. The words almost are. But something about ‘I’ll fix that’ lingers after he says it. Not enough to start an argument. Not enough to make you leave.

Just enough that, later that night, lying in bed with the house quiet around you, you find yourself replaying it. Along with the milkshake, and the flowers, with the way Todd had laughed when you helped that little girl.

Tiny things. Easy to dismiss. Little cracks rarely look dangerous when they first appear. They just let in a draft.

🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀

It’d been far too long since you last heard from Mark. Both of you having been too prideful to reach out after that disastrous night in your bedroom.

So, needless to say you were a bit surprised to find him sitting in your bed in your room when you get home from one of Todd’s games. He’d left to celebrate the win with his team, and you were exhausted. Still reeling from a stupid, petty fight you and him had before his game and having zero interest in spending the next handful of hours at a party drinking with his stupid friends.

“Mark?” Your voice comes out quiet, softer than you meant it too, “what’re you doing here?”

“Your window was unlocked,” He stands up, he looks stronger than he had five months ago. His muscles have filled out and that familiar seance dog tshirt strains against his chest now, “Look, Y/N, before you say anything, just let me talk please.”

Your arms cross and you sigh, making a vague motion to give him the floor.

“I messed up. And it shouldn’t have taken me almost a year to actually apologize to you… and I know you’re with Todd now, and honestly I was kinda waiting for you and him to break up but—“

“Mark—“

“No. Let me finish.” Mark says, stepping towards you, “I keep screwing up, and I’m sorry. But I miss you, Y/N. I miss us and the way we were and I’m sorry I’m the biggest asshat this side of the galaxy. I had no right to get jealous because you’re dating freaking Todd”

“Mark—“ you try again but he covers your mouth this time with his hand, something he’d do back when things were good and you were rambling too much or wouldn’t let him finish a thought. Your lips quirk against his palm into a smile, and he half expects you to lick him, but when your tongue stays put he just pulls his hand away.

“Sorry. I know you’re happy with him, I’ve seen all TikTok’s and instagram pictures. I get it. But I miss my best friend. Can we get back to that? Please?”

You soften, and you’d be lying if you hadn’t missed him too. When you and Todd fight and you want to vent or when something good happens and you want to celebrate. You miss these surprise visits through the window.

“Yeah, we can get back to that. I’ve missed you too.” You finally say, your arms wrapping around his shoulders to pull him in for a hug, “it’s been way too long.”

“Yeah,” Mark agrees, his breath warm against your ear, “it has.”

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HELLO! I do and yes and yes. I hope these are okay!! :^3

so what do you think of a rivalry Todd Williams vs mark Greyson on who’s the better friend much to readers annoyance when they want to do nothing with either of them.

Todd Williams vs. Mark Grayson — Competing to Be the “Better Friend”

I don’t think they would compete in a way that’s obvious.

It’s not loud not at first.

It just keeps happening.

And it gets exhausting fast.