Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Of all the days to start jogging...

Cursing yourself as you struggled up a steep incline, your feet feeling heavier with each step as you continued but you knew better than to stop. You had to get to either your car or a rangers station...That's the only way you might be safe in all of this.

You had only been at the halfway point of the hiking trail you'd decided to go for a run through when a breaking news alert came through to your phone. Your music suddenly being cut off, the public service signal tone abusing your ears as it rang through your headphones.

Hissing in mix of of surprise at the interruption and pain at the near deafening volume, you snatch headphones from your ears as you pull your phone from your pocket to read the news bulletin.

You only managed to read 'Multiple Hostile Individuals attacking' before a distant sonic boom followed by an explosion startled you, jumping in shock your phone's sleek case slipped from your hands as you back away from the direction of the sound. It wasn't nearby but it was enough to fry your senses for a moment, just long enough for you to fumble your phone and for it to fall into the rough of the trail.

And of course it landed screen down directly on a sharp rock..

"No! No no no...Please be ok, Please be ok..."

Bending down, you hesitantly reach out a shaky hand to pick up the cellular, one eye closed as you silently pray for the screen to be intact. Your heart drops and your eyes widen when you see the screen completely shattered and your colorful background replaced by nothing more than a black screen.

"Fuck! God damn it-!" Your panicked tantrum interrupted by another distant explosion, followed closely by a second and then a third, the ground rumbling under your feet. Tripping backwards, you press your back against the trunk of a large tree. Digging your fingernails into the tree bark, you struggle to catch your breath as you feel tears prick their way into your eyes as your other hand clutches your busted phone, the only possible lifeline completely useless...

"Alright...Ok...Do-Do the next best thing..."

Pushing yourself from the tree, your legs shaky and unsteady as you keep your eyes to the sky while slowly making your way through the remaining half of the trail. Shaking your head to chase away any overly pessimistic thoughts, you trudged through the woods.

No one is saving you here. You need to save yourself...

Reaching the top of the incline you'd been struggling with, your eyes scan what should be a beautiful serene view. You're in a clearing along the trail that overlooks both the lake and expansive forest. The only break from the treeline being the mountains off in the distance. This picturesque moment undercut by the echoing noises of destruction surrounding you...Explosions, sonic booms, emergency sirens wailing, every catastrophic noise bouncing off the mountains just so they can make their way to your ears...

The last thing you see before you drop to your knees -whether it be from shock or exhaustion- is a person crashing into a mountain peek miles away. It was a purposeful action, the person slamming into one side and coming out the other, only to continue on and slam right into the next ridge behind it. Rocks and trees lining the sides crashing down and rolling towards the base, the sounds deafening in your ears as you watch in horror.

Tears rolling your cheeks, your legs buckle as you fall to the ground. Hearing a familiar whooshing sound, almost like a high pitch hum, you point your head towards the sky,eyes scanning the source.

It's one you recognize all too well. You've heard it a thousand times before now. That distinct sound you've never misidentified.

It had to be him...

Your next door neighbor. The teenage superhero who on the first night he got his powers was practicing flying and slamming into his backyard, thinking that somehow no one would notice. The once slightly gawky teenager who had been too engrossed in comics to get a girlfriend that now would come to you prattling on about his dating life. The guy you would confidently call your best friend... You were always there for him when he needed, let's just hope you're right and he's here when you need him now.

It just had to be him.

It had to be -

"MARK!"

Chapter Text

The glimmer of hope in your eyes slowly slips away when the figure in the air comes into frame. Form suddenly stopping nearly directly above you, the wind current behind him sweeping ahead. The long yellow cape billowing behind while the silhouette of a person all but blocks the sun from your vision.

You were wrong...It wasn't Mark...

In your optimism you got lost in the delusion that Mark would somehow know where you were and come save you...and in your delusion you announced your less than ideal hiding spot at the top of your lungs.

Legs kicking out from underneath your shaking body, you struggle to get to your feet and book it back down the trail. Despite your best efforts, you don't get far...

You don't get more than a few steps away before you hear your future assailant slam onto the ground, the shock of his landing shaking the dirt beneath your sneakers. Somehow you manage to keep your balance, your steps unsteady and desperate as you run. A gust of wind catches your attention and you open your eyes, which you hadn't even realized you'd screwed shut in your panic.

You open your eyes just in time to get a glimpse of the broad chest you run face first into. A sharp cry leaving your lips as you rear back from the impact while the person you ran full-ish force into remains motionless after the collision, he simply stares down at your small frame before a wolfish smile slowly etches its way to his face.

"I thought I'd never find you"

Another panicked whimper you accidentally let slip does nothing but fuel his intrigue. You slam your hands against his chest to try and force any distance but as you pivot away to retreat he roughly grabs hold of you.

A strong hand wrapping itself around your wrist before he jerks you back towards him. Forcing your chest against his own, he cocks his head to the side as he looks you over. Taking in every detail he can etch into his mind of you...You who was long gone from his world...

Your wide panicked eyes failing to focus on any one part of his face, your cheeks are flushed and tear stained, your bottom lip quivering in fear as you face your captor.

But the most delicious part of this sight of you is that trail of blood coming from your nose. You must've hurt it when you ran headfirst into him...The crimson liquid dripping over your top lip as you stare up at him frozen in fear.

His left hand quickly grabs your chin and cranes your head up as he bends down, his face frighteningly close to yours. The corners of his mouth turned upward while he swipes his tongue across his bottom lip as he nears closer to you.

You can feel a warm liquid on his hands as he ensnares your chin and wrist in his grasp, you swear you smell a familiar cooper tang in the air but can't discern it from your own bloody nose. With your free hand pressed to his chest, you shift your stance on the ground as you try in vain to rip yourself from his hold.

"Wh-what are you do-doing? Let-let me g-!"

Your protest is cut short as you feel his tongue slowly drag itself across your upper lip. His goal isn't to tease a kiss out of you or make you blush or wither underneath him. That will come later...

A low, throaty moan escapes him as he relishes in your taste, seemingly savoring every drop of your blood he can steal. His tongue pressing roughly into your philtrum before pulling away. With a satisfied sigh, he swipes his tongue upwards dramatically while his tongue hits the tip of your nose. Your head thrashing to the side as you manage a glare, your piercing eyes betraying your shaking frame.

"What the fuck is your problem?! You psy-psycho!"

"Baby, it's still me...I'm just a much better model."

In a shocking turn of events, he actually drops his hold of you. Your wrist already aching and starting to bruise as you pull it from him and take a flurry of hurried steps backwards. Your eyes never once leaving his floating and imposing frame. The distance you created short lived as he silently moves closer, his yellow cape swaying gently behind him just barely not touching the dirt below.

Trying to get the rest of the blood from your nose and the saliva he left on you off, you rub the back of your hand across your face as you struggle to steady your ragged breathing. In the nano second you blinked you felt another gust of wind and opened your eyes to find the black and yellow draped individual gone. Hearing a choked snicker come from behind, you whip your head around only to be met with a pair of strong arms caging you in a vice grip.

A panicked cry out is only met with condescending shushing, the side of his masked face roughly nuzzling the side of your head as he slowly presses his weight against your back. Buckling under his strength, your bare knees hit the dirt trail roughly as he curls his body around your small trapped figure.

"Shhh, shhh...It's alright now..."

"Ge-get off, Mark..."

"I know I'm not yours...But you'll be mine. This world's Mark is a fucking idiot. You've been right here the whole time, why would he want anyone else?"

Your hands come up to grab hold of his forearms as you squirm, his hold of you unyielding as you wither. Your breath hitches in your throat as you feel his hot breath against the side of your neck. Pressing small, uncharacteristically gentle kisses to the tender skin before he speaks.

"You know, my you let me cover every inch of this beautiful skin in teeth marks...Whaddya say? I can put a nice one right here..." His voice low and dark as he speaks. Not waiting for an answer, he runs his tongue up the side of your neck slowly.

Gritting your teeth as your glare to the side, your eyes just barley able to see the top of his black hair coming from the top of his mask.

"Bite me, you fucking freak..." Your words laced with venom as you speak.

You can't see the dark smile that creeps to his face, he's not sure about the meaning behind your taunt...but he's choosing the more entertaining option.

"If you say so..."

Chapter Text

With tear blurred vision, your eyes can't really focus on the figure that just barely breached the treeline above. Within seconds the (hopefully) familiar man has dropped down to the ground with a hearty thud. A thick cloud of dust and dirt kicked up by the sudden impact, you clench your eyes shut as you run towards him.

Arms wrapping around his strong body, you press the side of your face against his chest as you tighten your grip. A small wave of relief washing over you. Here he is! The only person on this Earth that could possibly make you feel safe right now. Your best friend, your only saving grace in this shit show.

"Mark, thank god you're here..."

Your shoulders relax more as you lean against him, your breath falling into a calm rhythm as you can hear the faint beating of his heart. A soft relieved sigh slips from your lips as you blink your eyes open. A few small tears spring to them as the dust in the air steadily falls before settling on the ground.

With your head still pressed into his chest, you fail to notice two key details...The altered color scheme of his suit and that...bold...hairstyle. But you can't miss the obvious difference in his voice. Instead of the soft comforting tone you've grown accustomed to hearing from Mark you're met with a grating, almost shrill, sound.

"Well, this is fucking nice...Glad to know I don't have to woo you twice."

Your head shoots up to look at the man you're still pressed against, an unknown guy that looks all too much like your best friend. Rearing backwards, you try to force yourself from his hold but you're met with a nerve wracking sight.

Fluffy hair replaced by a mostly shaved head save for a short black mohawk. Brown gentle eyes now intense and wide, dark eye bags betraying the excited look on his face.

Your eyes widen as he shortens the distance between you both, his forehead touching yours. A strong arm now wrapped around you, his forearm pressed into the small of your back to keep you there. You tilt your head back to look back there, the contact being far more intimate than what you've shared before.

The blood smearing across the back of your light colored top sinking your heart as you watch bewildered. Blood coating his arm in ravenous splattering patterns and smears. Older dried blood mixing with fresh new additions, small pieces of flesh clinging to the fabric of his dirtied yet intact uniform.

The drops of blood that slip from his arm pool in an ever growing puddle behind your. Until now you hadn't noticed the overpowering metallic scent slipping it's way into your nostrils.

This is Mark...but he isn't your Mark

"M-Mark...?"

Your voice wavering, uncertain and scared as he watches you intently, his eyes flickering as he scans every inch of your face. His nose scrunching up as his grin widens.

You look just a beautiful now as they day he lost you.

And he's got no intention of losing you again.

A needy moan is just barely audible from him as he presses his face into the crook of your neck. You've got no right still having this pull over him, this deep seeded desire from him to take you over and over again.

"Baby, you know it's me. Who the fuck else makes you whimper like this?"

Cooing in your ear, you feel his hot breath tickle your neck before he takes the chance to bite your earlobe. Biting the tender flesh, he snickers darkly as he hears you gasp and try to pull away, the sudden bite nothing more than a nip but it was enough to elicit just a tantalizing noise from you.

You hand pressed against his chest as you try to force him back, only from him to roughly tug you closer if possible. Shifting his hold of you, he grips your hips tightly as he stares down at you, finally taking a proper look over your body.

"What are you doing?! Let go of me you fucking dickhead!"

That fiery glare of yours is betrayed by way you shrink in on yourself. The way he's looking at you is predatory, his whole demeanor is rapacious...Greedy and hungry. And he's looking you over like your his next meal.

The tight compression shorts clinging to the untouched flesh of your thighs, the light colored workout shirt already smeared with blood from him holding you close, and your knees dirty and bruising from the couple stumbles you took while running away.

A low whistle leaving his lips as his eyes linger over your mostly uncovered legs, an expectant grin and a mischievous glint in his eyes has your heart nearly beating out of your chest before you can even react to him.

"I never let you leave the house like this...Not without me getting to inspect every inch of you beforehand..."

The next thing you notice is that he's on his knees in front of you.

"You're the only thing that could make me kneel, baby...Think I deserve a little treat, yeah?"

Your shuddered breathes catching in your throat, you right foot sliding back to start to run but a firm hand grabbing your ass has you letting out a squeal that only encourages him. Your first instinct is to grab his head and force him away from you, but the way you grab onto the side of his just earns you a sharp corrective nip to palm of your hand.

Hissing in pain, you rear your hand back and slap him on reflex. Tanking the smack, Mohawk lets out a pleased groan as he revels in your presence, each bit of contact further proving is desperation with you being so close for the first time in so long.

The way he tilts his head to the side with wild eyes and a proud smile curling on his lips tells you he's enjoying himself more and more with each passing second.

His left hand slowly trails from your hip down the side of your thigh, his thumb tracing along the shorts your wearing. His right hand squeezing your ass in random intervals to pull from sounds from you. A firm hand grips the flesh of your leg as he licks his lips, his body still planted firmly on his knees in front of you.

Biting back your mewls and moans, you can only watch as he teases a thumb under the edge of your shorts. Shifting your weight nervously, your eyes widen as he pulls up the edge of the fabric, his tongue roughly licking up the newly exposed flesh before he starts peppering kisses to your skin.

The only thing that stops him from taking this too far is the sudden grip you've got on him, both hands gripping the side of his head desperately. Eyes full of fear, bottom lip quivering as he handles you, and the shaky plea that escapes you...To him it's like you're begging him to ruin you for the first time all over again.

"M-Mark...No-not h-here...?"

You're not getting out of this. No chance in hell of that. Not with the way he's looking at you. The way he's grabbing at you. Pawing and exploring your body like he already knows every inch by heart.

Licking his lips eagerly, he makes quick work of picking you up. Effortlessly, he swings your body in the air like a ragdoll. Like a plaything. Losing your bearings in the rush, you instinctively cling to the only thing you can.

Him

That's short lived...

Suddenly you're flung upwards in the air, his grip -and somehow calming presence- gone in an instant as you're thrown into the sky. You don't even get a chance to scream before you see him fly up passed you, his fiendish grin the only thing you can make out before his arms are wrapped around you once more.

You're panicked cries only being met with a bitter cackle as he forces you closer, the air disheveling your already ruined hair as the wind whips around you more. Pulling your chest against his as he flies you higher, you bury your face in his neck.

The only thing you can hear besides the sound of the wind is his howling laughter.

"M-Mark! P-Please put us down!"

If he can hear you he doesn't care.

Spiraling in the air, his grip on you unwavering as he slowly comes to a stop. Your head still buried in his neck, you can feel all of your body weight being pressed against him.

He's floating with his body laying flat in the air, his focus solely on you as he steadies your shaking frame. His legs spread apart with his ankles crossed, forming a diamond with his legs so you can support your own body a little better.

"M-Mark, wh-what...wh-where?" Hesitantly opening your eyes, you only manage to get a glimpse of the ground hundreds of feet below.

An ear piercing screech so close to his ear has Mark wincing and rolling his eyes at your theatrics.

"Get me down from here! I fucking hate heights!"

"You did. Until I fucked that out of you." Flashing you a grin, he has one hand grabbing your hip as you lay ontop of his floating frame. His other arm reaching around to lay under his head, not needing the added support but it's more comfortable.

"We aren't like that! I'm not with Mark-You...Him!" In a moment of sheer stupidity, you snap at the only thing between you and falling to your certain death.

"His fucking loss then! Fuck him, fuck this whole shitty world! The only good fucking thing about any of this is that I've got you again!"

Rolling your eyes at the childish response, you tighten your hold on the fabric on his chest, your legs curling closer together as you lay on him, your hair falling in your face as you glare.

"You never had me! I don't know who you are!"

"I'm Mark."

"Not my Mark."

"I'm a better one! I'm one that knows what you like."

"Yeah right..."

"I can prove it. I can prove I know what you like. And that I'm a better Mark than that guy has ever been to you"

"How?"

Smirking as he shifts his weight, he grips your shoulders roughly as he cocks an eyebrow down at you, your panicked whimpers hanging in the air as he moves you. Forcing you to lay down, your chest pressed flat against his as he runs a hand down your back.

"God damn it, you haven't sounded so needy since the first time we did it."

"We! Have never fucked!"

"But we will."

That confident smirk and chuckle do little to sway him in your favor but you can't really argue that he's not at least slightly attractive to you...You'd be a liar if you said you didn't find him a little charming...even if it is in an assholeish kind of way.

"No, we won't..." Your voice trails off at the end. Your hands planted firmly on his chest, you slowly push yourself up to look down below you. Both at him and the surface of the Earth far far far away from you.

Cocking an eyebrow when he sees you venturing, Mark winks and blows you a playful kiss. The scene playing out just how it did back in his dimension...when he first had you.

"Trust me?"

"Hell no! Why in the world should I?!"

Clicking his tongue in annoyance, he shrugs his shoulders, relenting that yeah...You kind of had a point there. But he's known you for years, he may not be the same Mark but you? You're a dead ringer for your counterpart and he's sort of banking on that.

"Eh...You're too chicken anyway..."

The way your head whips back down to him is exactly how he wanted you to react. The flickering of your eyes back and forth to read his expression, the way your lips pursed at the mere insinuation you might be a coward at something, and the smallest flash of determination in your bright eyes, the eagerness to prove him wrong.

"Chicken about what...?"

The second you ask he knows he's got you. Even now with your body slightly raised from his, he can feel your heart beating rapidly as you struggle against him.

"Sit up. Sit up on me"

"What? Fuck no! I'll fall!"

"No you won't"

"Oh what, you'll catch me? You're the one that threw me up here!"

"I didn't let you fall, did I? I got you up here safe and sound. Plus we've done this dozens of times before."

"No, we haven't. We aren't together here and I don't trust you."

"Then why don't you trust your body..." Just barely above a whisper, Mohawk can feel your body jolt slightly when he reaches down to run his hand over the curve of your ass again.

Squeezing the fat of your ass, Mohawk rolls his hips to encourage you to sit up, smirking when he sees a blush slowly crawl its way back onto your face.

"Come on, Baby. You know what to do."

With one hand still firmly on your ass, Mohawk reaches down to grip your hip as you slowly swing one leg to his side, repeating the action for your other leg. With him laying flat, your legs dangling on either side of him, straddling him with your hands planted firmly on his chest.

Sitting up straighter, your breath unsteady as you try to keep your balance. The full weight of your body resting around his weight as he lays in the air, he smirks when he sees your shoulders relax the longer you hold the position.

"There we go...Knew you could do it."

The hand steadying your hip slinks its way to your ass, a rough squeeze as a reward for you listening to him. Biting your lip, you moan at the gesture. He rolls his hips into yours again, your head ducking down to suck in a breath.

"D-Don't..."

You cursed the overly intimate position, though he seemed quiet pleased with himself. In any other scenario, straddling someone like this would immediately cross into more...illicit exploits, which seems like that's exactly what he was going for.

With more force behind it this time, he rolls his hips into you again, clearly already more than a little excited by being inbetween your legs. Desperate for any sort of distraction from the height, you press yourself against him more.

"Oh fuck yeah...Right there, Baby..."

Bending his knees upwards, like he's planting his feet along a surface that's not there, he slides his hands back to your hips. Thumbs pressing roughly against the bones, he presses you backwards just enough so that your back lays against his knees. More stability for you and a better angle for him...

How long you go on like that for you'll never know. Long enough for him to get fully hard, the skintight suit leaving little to the imagination as you feel it press against your clothed crotch with every movement.

"M-Mark...C-Can..."

You don't even need to finish the sentence. He already knows what you're asking.

Dropping his knees, you fall backwards for a split second, an arm wrapped around your waist to pull you closer. His other hand hitching up your leg over his side, silently asking for you to lock your legs around him again.

Moving in unison, you both go in for a kiss, him roughly biting your bottom lip before shoving his tongue in, not waiting for permission. Moaning into him, you swing your other leg around to trap him between your legs while his hands squeeze your thighs while you kiss.

One overly rough bite has you rearing back hissing in pain as you glare at him with lust filled eyes.

"Wh-what was that for?"

"You didn't think I was gonna be that gentle the whole time, did you?"

Chapter Text

It was the truest definition of a blink and you'll miss it moment. One second you're standing with your head turned towards the sky, your eyes scanning the air fora familiar sight...the next second your being pinned to the ground by Invincible...by Mark.

Mark Grayson. The doofus you've practically shared a backyard with since you moved into the neighborhood when you were about 9.

Someone you would trust with your life.

How quickly things change...

Slammed against the rough terrain, you feel the wind forced from your lungs. Gasping for air, your let out a choked cry as you struggle to catch your breath beneath the strong figure above you.

"I love that I still leave you breathless! I knew you'd still have the hots for me!"

That voice...that cheeky excited tone...The kind your used to hearing from Mark when he gets a new comic. Or when something good happens in his love life. Or he manages to pass a test he surely thought he'd fail.

But this one is laced with something else...malice? Hostility? His truculent undertone made you hesitant to look up at him, but a strong hand forces your chin forward while your eyes struggle to focus. When he tackled you your head slammed against the hiking trail -thankfully missing any rocks- and your head was already pounding from the impact.

Rolling his eyes dismissively at your evident pain, he removes his hands from your shoulders and instead places them on either side of your head. His knees resting on the dirt, you lay nearly motionless on the ground as you watch his movements, your eyes tracking his arms. Hands flat against the ground as he braces himself, he sneers out his response.

"Don't be such a baby. I still remember how we broke your bed...You couldn't walk right for a week and then begged me to do it again."

A darkly proud grin sweeping his face, he tilts his head down just enough to nip the tip of your nose. Your head trashing slightly to the side, simply out of instinct but he seems to take it personally. His upper lip twitches and his nose scrunches at the apparent denial of his 'affection'.

Sensing the shift in the air, the light in his eyes fading just enough for cause for concern, you do the only think of. Beta yourself...

"M-Mark?"

Your voice low and honeyed as you speak. Calm, soothing, and unassuming...

You don't need to agitate him further. You're smart enough to choose your battles wisely, not like you could actually stave him off if he decided to do anything, but still. No need to make a situation worse for yourself.

You don't even know what situation you're dealing with. This clearly isn't YOUR Mark Grayson. He'd never tackle you or say such...provocative... things. Not to you at least. Furthermore, he's not in the new suit you'd seen Mark sporting recently, you never went through the trouble of renaming his contact in your phone to 'Invinci-Boy' just to tick him off a bit.

But right now you're not dealing with that Mark...

So who exactly are you dealing with? What twisted person has you pinned? Who dares wear the mask and fail to bare the mantle of the name Mark Grayson?

With his usually sweet eyes no longer trapped behind his goggles, you get a clear view of his face... Steady eyes with dilated pupils watch your intently, his gaze unwavering as you wither on the ground, an upticked smile doing little to ease your growing concerns.

"There's that voice I love! And here I thought you were gonna be all weird about this. Really, you can't expect me to NOT to pounce you here."

If you wanted to say anything you wouldn't have gotten the chance. Instead of a dialogue between two people he turns this into a soliloquy...Just him rambling, ranting, and raving while you're helpless to get a word in or move from your captured position.

"You know,It's been so long since I lost you.I almost forgot how good you felt. Almost..."

"Lost me? What are y-"

"I mean it, I could never get over how fucking phenomenal you felt! Remember the first time we did it? Huh?! Back of your car, you just got dumped by that asshole boyfriend of yours? Needed a big strong ME to cry too?"

His head dipped further down, nose rubbing against yours to force your eyes forward to stare him dead on. The overly affectionate gesture undercut by the wicked grin and too of wide eyes.

"I-I don't re-"

"Oh come on! Don't give me that! No way you don't remember! You practically begged! I even memorized how you asked me..." His head bobbing from side to side as he shakes his shoulders in tandem with his words underlines just how seriously he's taking having you like this.

He's relishing every second and has no intention of letting you go any time soon.

"I've never- I mean we did-"

"Ma-Mark *hic* . Please...M-Make me feel better. I *hic* n-need you"

Batting his eyelashes dramatically and pouting his lip while he looks at you, you have to bite your tongue to stop from lashing out. Obviously YOU never begged him! Whatever version, whatever that means, he had of you did. But that's not you! And it's getting increasingly harder for you to refrain from any outburst.

What's even worse is the abysmal 'impression' -if you can call it that- that he did of you...The higher pitched, begging tone that's clearly only there to further his own ego.

"And ya wanna know what I did? Bet ya don't even need me to-"

"No because I don't believe it! I doubt I'd ever, EVER, get with a guy like you! I don't care that you look like him, you're not my Mark"

The second you opened your mouth you knew you'd fucked up...The way his eyes open and look off to the side when you cut him off, the way he just barely lets the consistent smile or grin he's had on his face the whole time slip before it's replaced with a..forced...version.

"Really?" His head tilted to the right, he looks over your body before shrugging his shoulders, trying to feign disinterest.

For once he actually waits for you to answer. Waits for an explanation. Waits for an possible reason for you to say such horrid things.

"Well-Well...I just mean that we...haven't? You-you're just...not...him? For me..." Wracking your brain, you struggle to formulate any sentence. The way his eyes are now intensely staring into your own is throwing you.

"Not him, huh?"

"No, Not-not mine...We haven't...uhm..."

"Bullshit. It doesn't matter how different you think we are. We've both had you already." His confidence almost makes your blood boil, the sheer audacity for him to say something like that with such a sure tone is unbearable, especially given the truth.

Looking to the side, you feel your cheeks flush as you consider whether or not to admit this to him. On one hand, if you do, he might back off...If you can assure him that you and your Mark aren't involved, he might lose interest. On the other hand, he might only be emboldened...

"I mean...I-I'm..." Your cheeks and the tips of your ears redden as you speak, biting your lip you try to buy yourself time but it wasn't going to do you any good. Not now...

A light bulb must've gone off in his head, his eyes instantly getting a glimmer in them as he somehow figures out what you were going to say.

"No fucking way! Really?! Like not at all?! Nothing?!"

"Don't sound so excited about it!"

So what?! So what if you haven't been with anyone like that before? It's not like its his business and it's not like that should change anything! You haven't been with Mark! That should've been enough for this guy!

Yeah, should have.

"Fuck yes! I get to be your first time TWICE!!"

A maniacal chuckle leaves him before you feel his body weight on yours, his strong chest pressing against yours so hard that you feel sticks and rocks under your back dig in. Your legs kick out as you try to force your knees up to keep some distance between you two.

He presses his face into the crook of your neck, sucking a few teasing kisses and hickeys onto the flesh before he pulls back, clearly intending on watching the progress of you coming undone.

In a rather surprising moment, he takes notice of the wide, nervous look in your eyes while you keep trying to glare at him.

"Don't look at me like that! It's gonna be fun! We had so much fun before! I've just gotta remind this body of yours about it..."

A rough kiss to the side of your face as you twisting your head away to the side, only for him to take this as an invitation to suck and bite more hickeys into your now exposed neck. The smallest mewls leave your pursed lips despite your best efforts.

"That's what I like to hear. Come on! Give me more of that!"

Another rough bite to your neck has you kneeing him in response. The impact has him grinning into your neck between taunts and you can swear you hear a moan come from him. One last bite followed by him latching onto your ear lobe, tugging at the sensitive flesh before he rears back.

For the first time since your meeting, he's no longer hovering over you. You flinch slightly as the sunlight slips through the treeline and hits your eyes, you hadn't even realized he'd been blocking the light until he'd moved out of the way.

Your relief is short lived, he's not gone, he's just adjusting his position. Your head jerks up to look back at him when you feel his hands on your knees, his grip firms as he meets your gaze. A cocked eyebrow and an insinuative smirk makes you stiffen your shoulders and clenching your jaw, swallowing hard as you watch him cautiously.

"I really missed you, ya know? I remember how much fun we had together...and I remember how this was always my favorite place to be."

"Wh-where?"

"Right here..."

Without a second thought he's spreading your knees apart. Trying to force your legs together or squirming in his hold does nothing, only makes him coo out to you with empty words of praise. Dragging his knees along the dirt, he pulls himself closer to your now more exposed state. Even with your compression shorts still on and him still being fully clothed, there's still air air of scandalousness that hangs in the air.

Your finger nails digging into the dirt, your nail polish chipping as you curl your fingers into the soil, trying to brace yourself. He spreads your legs further as he presses his hips into yours, his hands cupped under your knees as he holds them in the air to force you closer as he slides against you.

His heads dips back as a slurry of soft groans leaves him, arching his back to rut into you roughly. His nails digging into your skin as you throw your head back, a choked gasp grabbing his attention as it leaves you.

"There we fucking go...You feel me now, don't you? Even with my suit on you feel how hard you get me, isn't that right?"

You can hear the proud smirk plastered on his face as he muses. Screwing your eyes shut, you clasp a hand over your mouth as you feel him force himself into you more. You can't see the way licks his lips as he feels your legs twitch in his hands, the way he stares at you as you subconsciously arch your back into his thrusts.

He settles your legs on his hips as he bends back down, one hand grabbing the side of your head and the other back supporting his weight into you.

"God, fuck me...You can even make dry humping amazing. You were always such a tease you know that?"

You don't give any verbal reaction but you manage to open your eyes just enough to look at him, his black hair that was once pushed back now tousled as he ruts himself against you. Forcing a rough kiss to your lips, you bite his tongue when you feel him try to force it in your mouth. You'd think he'd be angry at the denial but it's the opposite, a wider smile appearing as his lust filled eyes look into yours.

He gets off on the push and pull, the pleasure mixed with the pain with you. He knows you don't remember the time he spent with his version of you, but that's not going to stop him chasing those highs and reminiscing while he's humping himself against you. Hoping that he'll be able to recreate every memory with you now.

"Do-Do your windows face eachother?" Slowing the roll of his hips, he presses himself harder inbetween your legs to rip a shaky moan from you as he drags his clothed erection against you slowly, letting you feel every inch of him you can while he awaits your answer.

The weak nod you muster his just what he wanted to hear.

"Ours did too...And every night I'd fist my cock to the idea of fucking you. I knew you wanted me to! You left your damn blinds open so that every night when you changed clothes, you were stripping just for me. You wanted to show me everything you had to give me"

"I-I di-n't-"

"Oh but ya did! Every! Single! Night! I watched you every night from my window...For years neither of us made a move and it fucking sucked! I could've had you sucking me off every night...I could've made a permanent imprint of myself in you by that point but no! You were right there the whole damn time!!"

Each word emphasized by a rough needy thrust of his hips.

"And after the first time we did it you were fucking hooked! You couldn't keep your damn hands off me! You wanted it everywhere, everyway, everyday!"

Lifting one of your legs more, he drapes it over his shoulder as he holds your other ankle and slams his hips against yours. Trembling moans managing out as you clasp you hands over your mouth, determined to give him as little encouragement as possible.

Your eyes rolling in the back of your head and the bright red blush across your face tell him that even though wasn't you he shared those moments with, that you might not be adverse to recreating them. Your moans get louder and louder as he continues, regaling you of your bygone exploits together.

"The first time we fucked in your pool was amazing...Barely any lube, out in your backyard where anyone would hear how good I was making you feel...Remember when I bent you over the side of the pool? The doctor told you your broke two ribs..."

He practically coos that in your ear while he drags his hips against yours, a visible dark spot forming by his head were his cock still tucked away in his uniform. Desperate and ready to be set free.

"You were such a fucking bitch about it. You gave me so much shit...Said I couldn't fuck you again until they healed..."

"G-Good...?"

He imitates a buzzer noise and grabs a hip roughly, slamming himself against you again, making sure to rolls his crotch slowly to illicit the best reaction.

"Nope...You're a little freak...You said I better break more the next time! That's when we broke your fucking bed! Your old man was so pissed..." He cackles darkly before he forces his lips against yours again.

Breaking the kiss, you get a good look at him for the first time in a while. His eyes are wide, his expression needy and frustrated but you couldn't deny how attractive he looked there...but this was too much.

Too much too soon. Too much with someone you knew too little about...Even if he was Mark. He's not yours...But you doubt he'll let you go without a fight. You might only have one chance to get this right.

"M-Mark..."

His eyes light up when you squeak out his name, pressing himself deeper against you he leans in closer to listen to you.

"What is it, huh? What do you need, Baby? Just tell me..."

"Y-you..."

With a pair of shaky hands, you put one hand against his hip to push him back a little while your other gets your leg off of his shoulder. Surprisingly, he listens, partially because he's so desperate to please you and partially because he can sense just how badly you want him too.

You drop your other leg from his hip while you slowly lift yourself up, sitting up on your elbows as you watch him. Your eyes half-lidded while you let out a few overwhelmed pants, your hair is a mess from you squirming under him during your dry humping session.

You lean forward, goading him into a kiss he happily falls into. Running your tongue over his body lip before giving a rough tug, pulling it between your teeth as he moans, palming the front of his suit, trying to force any friction he can muster until you touch him.

Breaking the kiss, you give a testing lick up the side of his cheek before you move to his neck. Sucking a pair of small hickeys into his pale flesh. Slowly dragging a hand over his chest, you move your hand south at an impossibly slow pace. The wait only exciting him more, you've done this before to him and the pay off is always worth it.

Hand gingerly moving to glide over him, you settle your lips back on his as he lets a breathy moan into your mouth. His hips jerking forward to meet your touch and give himself more pressure, he grips your wrist with a firm hand to hold you there.

Your hand falling flat against him, you do your best to give him anything that could be pleasurable. Even though the suit's durable fabric you can feel his precum seeping through, he's been like this for how long exactly, no idea...but you know he's definitely bigger than you expected.

Once satisfied and convinced he's fully erect, you go to pull your hand away, only to be stopped, your hand forced back against him. Breaking the kiss, he looks at you with pleading yet forceful eyes.

"Don't stop"

This is your chance...

Parting you lips slightly, you watch him with soft eyes, batting your eyelashes as you speak.

"I-I can't have you it if it's hidden away..."

Taking merely a nano second to process, he pulls his hand off of yours to start to take off his suit, no further words needing to be exchanged.

In his excitement he pulls away, his focus solely on stripping himself of his costume to take you. But that's what you were counting on...

The second his attention is off of you you take your chance. Lifting your leg while still on the ground, you kick him as hard as you can manage square in the crotch. Hoping that a direct hit to the groin while fully erect will be enough to stall him. What're you gonna do? Run like hell.

The second after you hit him, you're turning back to your side to force your self up and get your legs under you as fast as you can. Not taking the time to look back, you run further down the trail before you jump off the path, trying to slip into the thick woods to escape him.

Right on impact, he's doubled over to ground. His fists pounding into the dirt as he lets out an anguished groan. On his knees while he tries to wrap his brain around what just happened, he lets out a string of labored breaths and throaty moans. Coughing up some spit as the pain quickly clears, he looks towards your retreating figure as a cruel snicker leaves him.

"Oh baby...You even remembered my favorite game..."

Chapter Text

If you were to ask him who his mother was, Mark wouldn't be able to tell you much. A woman his father met years ago during the first leg of his mission to take control of Earth. Her name was Debbie. He's never seen a photo of her and his father seldom speaks of his life on Earth.

Mark couldn't describe her in any more detail than that. He has no memories of her, soon after his birth his father returned back to Viltrum and took him with him. From then on Mark was raised solely by his father Nolan on the planet Viltrum. Initailly, the mission parameters were like any other takeover. Infiltrate, weaken, and conquest. Nothing a skilled warrior couldn't handle. However, the changed when the something extraordinary was realized, something that would forever change the purpose of Earth in the Viltrum Empire.

The similarities between human and Viltrum DNA were remarkable. The differences between the samples nearly negligible in the grand scheme of things. And how quickly Nolan's mate fell pregnant was a good sign...

Nolan returned with an infant Mark in hand...He did Debbie the grace of keeping the name the pair decided on for the child. Upon further inspection back on Viltrum, it was revleaed that Mark's DNA was found to be nearly 99% like his father's. He was as close to a pure VIltrumite a hybrid could get...That was the only reason Mark was 'welcomed' on the planet.

The validity of Mark's lineage questioned as the years go by, the lack of powers casting doubt in the minds of the other Viltrumites as the boy grows. Each day he'd train, pushing himself to his absolute breaking point, and every night he would retire to his room, his body weak and battered.

From the moment he woke in the morning he would spar with his father, training his techniques as best he could. No enhanced strength, no durability, no healing. Just muscle and power his body built up over years of struggle. Each session more intense than the ones before. Mark didn't heal off the injuries in minuets or even over night, he got up in the morning with the pain from the days prior burning into his memory. No day without pain.

The bruises that painted his skin only getting worse over time, never having a moment to heal. Broken bones barely managing to heal before they were broken again weeks later, if they ever fully healed to begin with. His body held on to every ounce of pain that he was given.

Nolan was a harsh teacher. But he has his reasons...How desperate must a man be to push his son to the brink of exhaustion day in and day out?

He had his reasons...Nolan was given an explicit warning. A word of caution.

If on the day of his eighteenth birthday the boy was still without powers, he would be publicly executed. Mark along with every other Viltrumite on the planet was there when Thragg made the declaration.

The whole planet knew he was on borrowed time.

There's no need for a weak Viltrumite in their empire.

With every passing day that deadline got nearer. There wasn't anything Nolan nor Mark could do to stop the timer as the days ticked by. One by one, the time they had to together ever dwindling with each passing sunset.

When the day finally came that Mark got his powers, it was a relief to the father son duo. Instead of intensive pre-power training, Mark could now start transferring all he's learned and adapt it his new powers. Mark's training wheels were finally off.

Overlooking part of a pseudo-grassy pavilion, Nolan stood with his arms crossed over his chest as he watched his son. Off in the distance, Nolan watched as Mark honed his flying, the boy was fast but untrained. Unrefined. Sloppy. Looked almost like he was p-

"Seems like he's having fun"

The deep voice voice cuts through the otherwise calm moment. Shifting his eyes to the side just enough, Nolan sees Conquest float into his view with his own gaze trained on the young Viltrumite.

"Seems that way."

"Bet you were nervous. Weren't ya?"

"I knew his powers would come in. And if they didn't then it would've been handled."

"Don't pretend you would've been ok with it. I see the way you look at him."

"He's my son, Conquest. Of course I prefer this outcome."

"You can't fool me, Nolan. I've seen it before. You know aswell as I what might happen. Can't get too attached, even to your own."

"I know. And I'm not."

"Sure you're not...But remember, even we can get bleeding hearts. Don't forget that"

It's only a matter of months before Nolan and Mark are sent back to Earth. The next part of their reformed mission underway as the enter the Earth's atmosphere.

"You weren't lying. It really is shockingly similar"

Flying to the left of his father, Mark studies the blue green marble with the smallest hint of curiosity lacing his tone. A soft hum is the only acknowledgment Nolan gives as they approach. Mark fails to notice his father's slowing speed, only realizing Nolan stopped when he failed to hear the rustling of fabric following him.

Stopping just a few feet closer to the planet than his father, Mark turns to face Nolan with a raised eyebrow. Nolan's lips pursed into a line with narrowed eyes as he looks passed Mark, his blue orbs fixed on their destination.

"Father, what's wrong? Aren't we-"

"We are. But...not yet."

Mark straightens his back but relaxes his shoulders as his father speaks. Their mission was conquering this 'under developed' world as part of the Viltrum Empire, under set parameters of course. What his father was explaining to him well within those guidelines, just shocking for Mark to hear.

"You do understand what I'm telling you, don't you?" Nolan's tone low but sincere, his eyes mildly softened as he speaks.

"I...do. But, why? I thought that you said what you had with her was purely advantageous to your mission. I didn't think there was any emotional reason behind it?"

"These people Mark, they...they're the sentimental type. They form these lasting attachments and bonds quickly. I'm sure your mother would like to see you , even after all these years I'm sure she still thinks of you."

"I don't think it's necessary. I don't remember her and I don't know what good it wi-"

"Mark, it...This isn't just for you. I-I wan-Need. To speak with your mother about what happened."

"Why? What will it do?"

"Mark, I always tell you to get ahead of your enemy's attack. Get ahead of and deal with any problem before it is one. This is no different, understood?"

"Yes, sir. I...I do." It's a lie, they both know it. Mark couldn't possibly understand what he means. Viltrumites, his people, the ones Mark was raised with, don't do attachments the likes the kind Nolan is referring to. Neither dares say that out loud, both simply going along with the lie. Nolan comes closer to him. Reaching a hand out, he rests it on Mark's shoulder before a curt nod, patting his son's back once his with other hand before they continue on their path.

The only act of psychical contact besides training he's gotten from Nolan in all these years has been that gesture there. A shoulder grab with one hand or a pat to the back. Nothing more.

It takes no time for the pair to get to their small pit stop, even after all these years Nolan still had the address and the directions committed to memory. Following Nolan's lead, Mark drops down into the backyard and takes a cautious look around. No concern, just simple curiosity as he surveys his surroundings.

"Father, was this where you lived during your time here?"

"Yes, for part of it."

Nolan heads towards the sliding back door, holding his hand out for Mark to stop when he realizes his son is following him.

"Mark, wait out here...Give me a minuet to-to talk things over with your mother. Humans can be delicate and irrational beings...Let me prepare her, first, alright?" Looking back over his shoulder, Nolan tries to bury the emotion in his eyes to little success...Mark sees something in his father's eyes he's never witnessed before.

He can't even put a pin on it, can't find the way to describe the truly foreign look in Nolan's eyes. A sense longing? A twinge of loneliness? A pitiful display of true emotion for the first time...

"Yes, of course..." Stepping back off the porch, Mark settles for walking around the backyard, the lush grass giving under the weight of his body as he explores. Watch catches his eye first is the small partitioned wooden gate that's situated in the middle of the fence at the edge of the yard.

Seeing nothing else that might hold his attention, he approaches and without hesitation pushes it forward. Unlocked, the weathered wood door wings on it's hinges, a low creaking squeal coming from the corner as it opens. Another house similar to his 'mother's' home on the opposite side is the background while his eyes scan the newly opened territory. Hearing a distant slam, his eyes fall to the dwelling when he sees a person exit the home and enter the backyard.

Unaware of the figure lurking, you slip out of your house, flinching as the door closes behind you just a little too roughly for your liking. You head further into your backyard as you stretch your arms above you head and give a light yawn. The familiar squeal of the gate catches your ear. Looking over, you expect to see the gate lazily swinging in the wind, probably because you forgot to lock it after coming back from Debbie's house earlier in the day.

Instead you find a nearly 6 ft teenager in your backyard who is looking at you like you're out of place.

"Gah-ack! Hey! The fuck-who...you?" You stumble over your words, the tray of fresh cookies in your hand nearly sliding out of your grip as you take a quick step back. Whipping your head back to the intruder after you stabilize your hold on the cookies, you glare as the individual looks unphased by your question...Although in his defense, it could've been hard to understand since your words came out jumbled.

"Hey! Who-Who the hell are you!?" You take a few steps back towards your house, ready to run back inside and call the cops if this guy starts acting weird. Well, weirder than he already is...Like seriously, what the hell is this outfit he's sporting...

He doesn't speak, instead he watches you intently before he turns his head back towards Debbie's house. Your eyes follow his and your heart sinks, a sudden swell of panic washing over you as you realize that your neighbor could be in trouble.

"What-what did you do?! Where's Debbie!? Did you fucking hurt her?!" Slamming the tray down on the patio table, you rush off your deck and cross the yard in a hurry, no longer worried about this guy. Your only focus is on her. You get only about 10 feet from him before he looks back over to you, your approaching form nonthreatening as he ponders what might be being said in the other house.

"She's fine. Her and my father are talking"

You stop mid-step when you hear that, a small blush crossing your cheeks when you realize you may have overreacted and jumped the gun. Hand coming up to rub the back of your neck, you offer a weak apologetic smile as you look up at the male. He couldn't be much older than you, the strong features present on his face still holding a youthful look.

"Oh, sorry about that..I didn't mean to imply anything! It's just your uh-I mean you just...Uh..." You trail off as you give a quick glance down at his attire before you shake your head and look back up to his face. Watching you carefully, he says nothing and just lets you stumble through your apology, as unnecessary as it is.

After introducing yourself, you inquire about him, still more than a little confused at his sudden appearance and rather odd clothing choice.

"So...you are? Also, why did you wander my backyward? Kinda rude honestly." You let out a small chuckle, trying to be playful while still rooting around for some answers.

"Markus. My father told me to wait outside while he talked with mother."

"Markus! Nice! Do you go by Mark...? Wait..."

The gears in your head start turning, you remember what Debbie told you years ago...She had a son named Mark but he disappeared years ago with her husband...

"Are-are you...You said your dad is in there talking to your mom but that means...is your-is your mom Debbie?! Are you!-Holy shit!!"

You nearly squeal in delight, bouncing on your heels when you finally piece things together. Pulling yourself together quickly when you see the shocked, almost disgusted look splay itself over Mark's face at your reaction, you calm down, or try to, as you look up at him expectantly.

"Ok-Ok! Hold on...Is your mom Debbie? Are you her son Mark?! Like, little baby Mark that had big ole brown eyes when he was born?!"

Standing on your tip toes, you lean up to get a better look at his eyes. The color is a little lighter than the picture's you've seen, but it's fairly close. He rears back when you get a little too close, not even sure why he's done it. He's never reacted in such a way before when someone gets in his personal space, so why...why did he just do it now?

"Yes, 'Debbie' is my mother-"

Another excited squeal leaves you, your hands coming out to grab his arm happily before you speak.

"That's amazing! Come on! she-she needs to see you! Have you seen her yet, I bet she's so happy! Come on!" You try to tug him in the direction he came, your hands wrapped around his muscled arm but he remains unmoving. You turn back at him, your eyes soft while your lips are parted slightly, your brows furrowed as you look up at him confused. Your face showing the softest expression he's ever seen a sentient creature make...

"What's wrong? Don't you want to see your mom? I know she misses you."

He says nothing but he looks down at your hands on his arm, your grip is weak and unimpressive. He could easily break out of your hold but yet he remains there, the most gentle way someone's laid hands on him his whole life and he can't bring himself to free his arm.

Why? Why won't he pull his arm back from you? If he could, he'd be boring holes into your hands, his gaze unwavering as he subconsciously burns the memory of your gentle gesture into his mind. Your left hand brushing against the top of his and your right resting on his forearm as you hold him there. He traces over your delicate fingers as they testing run back and forth on his sleeve, the fabric assuredly foreign to you. His hand races and wanders...so much that they only thing that breaks him from his thoughts is the sudden recoil of your hands from his arm.

He quickly raises his gaze up at you at the sudden loss of your touch, his eyes widening slightly as his eyes meet yours. You have the same look in your eyes his father had before he went inside. That near glossy, low hued and sorrowful look...Like your heart is about to break just from looking at him. He can feel the smallest most minimal heat rising to his cheeks, something up until this point he's never experienced before.

"Are you alright?"

The saccharine voice you ask him in so jarring. It's sweet, calming, and so inviting. It feels...safe.

"I-I...I'm fine..."

"Are you sure? You look...spaced out. You were super lost for a second...Here, lets go sit on the deck, give you a second to rest while your parents talk."

You reach back out to take his arm and he happily lets you, his arm extending out as you to meet halfway. In a moment of weakness, he allows himself to be pulled in the direction of your house. You hold onto him in the same gentle way as before.

Following you up the steps, he sits in the chair you pull out for him as you sit across. He watches you with careful eyes, as in no uncertain terms he just doesn't quiet trust you. The care and compassion shown to a total stranger throwing him completely.

"Oh please! Help yourself! I just baked them..."

You gently slide the plate of cookies towards him while you relax in one of your deck chairs, taking on of them yourself before taking a bite. He accepts and gives a small nod as thanks.

"Your mom actually gave me the recipe. Said that she thought I might like to try it out."

"You sound...close...to her."

"Debbie? Oh, yeah..." Looking down, you kick your shoes against the woodgrain of the porch before you feel his eyes on your body. Lifting your gaze, you see him watching you expectantly, a raised eyebrow practically asking you to continue. But in the back of his mind, he can't help but shake a nagging question plaguing his mind...

Why does he care?

"Well, we moved in when I was like 9. There's no other kids in the neighborhood so I grew up just playing in our backyward. My parents got close with Debbie and she....I dunno. Just became a close family friend! She'd babysit me, we'd have fun together. I didn't know about...everything-" Taking a cursory glance at Debbie's home to detail your point- "until I was a bit older. She said that after you were born, you and your father both went missing. She said it was hard for her to move on but...having a kid next door kind of helped, in a cathartic sort of way, ya know? She just...kind of became part of the family! She cares about us and we care about her! That's just...how it is."

Mark can see the small etching of a smile cross your face as you speak but can't contain the rather rude remark he makes.

"Why?"

"Huh?

"Why? Why do you care?'

"Why wouldn't I? It's human nature....To want friends, family, to care? I think everybody wants to be loved and be cared about, atleast a little."

"Don't you think it's pointless? To care about people even though they'll leave you? Or hate you? Or die?"

"Jeez! Mr.Cynical over here! Damn man, no it's not pointless! It's...it's life! Every human cares about something or someone! People are naturally social! We're basically hella evolved pack animals...We love being with each other...even if some of the shit is bad! We're here for a short time...might as well make friends along the way, yeah?"

Your bright smile and the light giggle that leaves you does something to him. Such utter nonsense coming from you but you manage to make it sound so believable, so understandable...so real. His heart thumps in his chest as he listens to you, the glint in your eyes so bright for just a brief moment.

His eyes quickly shift towards a small bug flying towards him, the instant flinch back making you jump yourself. He raises his hand to swat away the creature but your panicked protests stop him.

"Wait! Don't dont!" You reach across the table and clasp his hand in both ofyours, trying to stop him from killing the small insignificant buggy that lands on his cheek.

"Why? It's on me."

"Mark! It's a ladybug! Those a good luck! Here..."

You move you hand to the side of his face, the back of your fingers gently caressing his cheek as you scoop the ladybug into your hand. You bring it down to table, gently pressing it off your hand before it flies away towards the Grayson house.

"Why did you..."

Bringing a hand up to his cheek, he rubs his fingers over the spot where you gently touched him.

"Don't worry, they don't bite and they aren't dangerous. It's just good luck to say them! I couldn't let you get back luck for killing one, now could I?"

You grin playfully at him, taking another cookie in your hand as you smile. The bright expression on your face, the gentleness of your touch, and the sweet way you've been talking with him almost too much for him to bear.

In such a short time he's learned why...Why Nolan had to see his mother after all these years. What his father meant by 'delicate and irrational', your overly optimistic and compassionate nature juxtaposing his ruthless upbringing...

Why would humans, who are so weak and feeble themselves, strain and exert so much energy to make meaningless, fleeting connections with others?

Simple...

Love.

Love for life. Love for humanity. Love for their fellow man.

You can always feel the strength of someone's love by how softly they speak to you.

The soft look in your eyes, the one fell so hard and so fast for, is one he thought he'd never see again.

An argument erupting next door, you stand up from your seat and Mark floats out of his. His body turning in air to face the back gate he'd come through himself not long ago as it's forced open by a woman screaming and cursing.

"Nolan, I said no! I'm not going with you and-"

Her voice wavers, dropping as she whips her head towards the pair of you. You've backed away from Mark when he lifted himself from his seat, your legs shaking as you move away from him and stare bewildered.

"Oh god, no...."

Mark stays silent as he looks at Debbie, a heated look, one interlaced with pain, fear, and rage as she took the first look of her son she's seen in 17 years.

"Debbie, what's going on!? I don't under st-"

Your panicked state and anxiety riddled question is interrupted by a well built male rising out from the Grayson's backyard and over your fence. Your legs buckling as you fall the ground, completely overwhelmed by the sights you're witnessing.

"I really had hoped with would go differently, Debbie. I really did. Mark, we're done here."

"M-mark?"

Your trembling voice twists something in his chest. His face dropping as he turns back to look at you. Those bright eyes, the ones that had shown nothing but some beautiful spell of light in them the whole time, now looking at him in terror.

"I...I'm sorry...I really am..."

That was the last time he saw you.

Until now.

You had called out his name. In the midst of all the chaos going on in the world. The pure carnage he was apart of spreading. And yet you still called for him.

He never thought he'd get a chance to see you again, but here you are. Right there in front of him.

Slowly descending from the air, he keeps his distance at first, trying to get a read on you. This you. A you he'd not yet hurt. A you he'd never hurt.

"Mark...Are...Are you ok?"

His feet land gently on the ground, a puff of dirt rising into the air before it settles. He doesn't move towards you but he looks at you with sad eyes. Ones that scream hurt, fear, loneliness.

You'd only ever seen Mark this broken before one time, after his fight with Nolan. Your heart broke seeing him like that, your best friend so abused and broken by someone he cared about, someone he still cares about... He might not be your Mark, but he's hurt and scared, and he just needs somebody to care. And he came to you, in all this, he still came for you.

Moving closer to him, you extend your hand and gently brush away a tear that's rolling down his face. Leaning into your touch, he presses his hand against yours to keep you there. His eyes slowly closing, savoring your gentle touch he's been missing ever since that day.

"Mark, hey...Talk to me..." You all but coo at him, speaking so softly as he nuzzles into your touch.

You aren't each other's you.

He isn't yours.

You aren't his.

But in this moment, you're all each other needs.

Chapter Text

Landing in their backyard, Mark touches with his foot barely grazing the grass before Nolan drops down next to him. A firm pat on the back before and a quick nod tells Mark that Nolan was impressed with their training, or at the very least proud of it. It’s been less than 4 months since Mark got his powers but, per Nolan, he uses them like he’s had them for years. Though his son still has a lot to learn when it comes to genuine combat.

“Next time, don’t go for the feint with the kick into the punch. You’re just wasting the energy with it. Either commit to the kick or-”

Before Nolan can finish the sentence, Mark has already lifted himself back into the air. Hip twisting as he swings his leg, the bridge of his left foot connecting square to Nolan’s cheek before he drops in for a low jab into Nolan’s stomach.

No hesitation.

The reignited spar cut short when Debbie opens the sliding glass door that leads onto the back deck, a mug of still steaming coffee in her hand as she sends a glare towards her only son.

“Mark! No fighting in the yard! It-”

“No, No.” Nolan raises his hand to cut Debbie off as he readjusts his jaw as he hears a barely audible click when it goes back in place. The cold look in Mark’s eyes are the same he saw over and over back on Viltrum, a ruthlessness paired with a not so hidden need to prove himself. Mark had that look before he even got his powers, a latent austerity that both his parents had grown accustomed to.

Their once playful and cheery little boy grew into a reserved, almost detached teenager. The only time he’d spend with his parents were during meals and ‘family bonding time’ which was insisted upon by Debbie in the last few years. With Nolan being gone so often and Mark growing more and more independent, it was rare to have the Grayson family together for more than a couple hours before Debbie started on that kick. But it did little to sway or curb the growing distance.

Nolan’s likeness that Mark was displaying didn’t escape Debbie, the stern calculative look in his eyes and the way he carried himself. It wasn’t pompous or imperious but he walked with his shoulders back and his back straight, truly undaunted by the world around him. He looked just like how Nolan did while in costume but Mark had it constantly.

Smirking to himself, Nolan knew his son was growing into a fine young man. Could see clearly that his son had the makings of a proper soldier of Viltrum.

“Good kick. Nice follow through” Raising a hand, Nolan grabs the side of Mark’s face, his fingers just barely grazing his son’s hair. A common practice, a muted sign of affection laced with pride while he looks over his son. Raising his shoulders with a soft huff, the corner of Mark’s mouth ticks upward slightly.

“Alright, alright! That’s enough you two…No more training. I’ve got an early morning so you’re on your own for breakfast.” Stepping between the two as Nolan drops his arm, Debbie hands her husband the mug before she turns to look at Mark. “Come ‘ere. Give me a kiss before I head out”

Rolling his eyes, Mark presses a quick kiss to her cheek before pulling away. Glaring slightly when Debbie pulls a face and makes a displeased scoff

“Oh Mark, take a shower before school…You reek.”

“Ugh, Mom-”

“Mark, listen to your mother”

An annoyed goran and another set of rolling eyes, Mark heads inside while Debbie crosses her arms over her chest, brows furrowed as she watches her son's retreating figure.

“He fights me on everything now.” Shaking her head in annoyance, Debbie turns to her husband expectantly. “But he still takes your word as gospel, you aren’t turning him against me, are you?”

Neglecting to answer, Nolan pulls Debbie into a quick kiss. Pulling away while laughing softly, she waves goodbye as she heads back inside to get her stuff and head out for the day. Nolan’s dropping before he makes his way back inside, sitting at the table with the coffee in hand as he mulls over her words, his eyes narrowing as he stares at the steam slowly rising from the drink in his hand.

It’s not long before Mark reappears, a different set of clothes on and his hair still wet, though just barely as he flies into Nolan’s view.

“Hey, you know what your mother says. No flying in the house”

“Mom isn’t here, what does it matter? You do it all the time.”

The low grumble that Mark hears tells him that it’s best not to push his luck, sometimes he can get away with it, others not so much. Dropping down, his slippered feet lightly tapping the tile floor as heads into the kitchen.

“Better?” His tone sharp, clearly annoyed by the denial of his powers but knowing better than to pick a fight over something so trivial.

“Much” Answering the rhetorical with a direct response, his eyes jumping to Mark just long enough to see his son throw a mild glare his way.

Pouring himself some cereal, Mark holds the bowl in one hand and eats with the other as he leans against the counter instead of sitting with Nolan. The pair sit in silence for a moment, the only soft sounds being heard are the ones of Mark eating, the spoon lightly clanging against the bowl, and Nolan setting his cup down every once in a while and the shuffling sound of Nolan flipping through the pages of his paper.

“Did you give anymore thought to what I said?” An exploratory tone barely hidden in his voice, Nolan doesn’t move his eyes but he can tell that Mark shot his head over to look at him. A soft sigh and the sound of Mark putting his bowl in the sink are enough to point Nolan in the direction of an answer.

“I just don’t see the point in it. If others are coming then why bother trying to find a mat-”

“Hey!” His cutting tone enough grab Mark’s attention. “We talked about that. I just think it’s a good idea for you to atleast try dating here. There’s a few good candidates. That Atom Eve girl has a decent power base.”

“I don’t like Eve. Plus she’s already with that Rex guy.”

“And? The kid charges things like a damn firecracker. That’s hardly a matchup, Mark.” Nolan stands and crosses his arms over his chest. They’ve circled having this conversation before.

Nolan thinking it may be a good idea for Mark to…sample…certain Earth subjects to see if they could produce a strong Viltrumite hybrid. It worked for Nolan. Mark was on par with some pureblooded Viltrumites, so it wasn’t a stretch to assume a human with a good power might be able to produce an even stronger Viltrumite. Expanding the empire WAS part of the plan afterall.

“Isn’t the important thing me liking her? Atleast a little?” Raising an eyebrow, Mark watches his father with an open mind. He’s not the fondest of Atom Eve but at the end of the day, he is aware of the greater good. (Or so he thinks)

“Ehh….That’s more of an Earthly concept than you think.”

“Bullshit, you like Mom.”

“We’ve talked about this, Mark. We don’t age like they do-”

“I know, I know. I’ll go through a thousand partners in my lifetime. I just think I should like the first one. And you do like Mom, don’t lie.”

“Of course I like your mother! She gave me you and she’s made a good home for us here. And when the time comes, she’ll stay with us. I just don’t want you to end up alone for a couple decades. All I’m telling you to do is pick a..companion. It’s not like it’d be forever. Plus, you might end up with a little you outta it. Just think it over.”

Having made his way over, Nolan pats Mark’s shoulder before walking passed him to get a second cup of coffee. Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Mark leaves the kitchen, calling out to Nolan that he’s heading out for school the second he’s out of sight.

The idea bounces in Mark’s head as he flies to school, taking his time and savouring the wind in his hair as he almost lazily glides in the air. His thoughts muddled as Nolan’s words replay over and over in his head. He gets there quicker than he imagined, having been lost in his own thoughts.

“Crap…” Hissing under his breath as the school comes into sight, Mark hurriedly lands on the roof before taking the stairs down. Halfway down the hallway, his dull eyes cast towards the ground as he walks with his bag slung on his back.

“Ugh! There you are!”

A familiar voice chipping in the air before an arm is thrown around Mark’s shoulder, he doesn’t even stumble as your full weight is thrown onto his side. You had to jump up to sling your arm around him, your wide smirk only earning you a raised eyebrow at the attention you’re giving him.

“What do you want?”

“Can’t I just be happy to see you? We are damn near best friends after all.”

“No. You’re always up to something. You or William.”

“So callous…” You drop your arm as you walk beside him, elbowing him playfully in the side as you struggle to keep pace with his quick steps.

This isn’t an unusual dynamic for the two of you, sure, you’ve known Mark for years and damn it, you’re pretty sure you're friends at this point. Neighbors since age 9, you’ve grown up with eachother! According to your parents, the pair of you were thick as thieves as kids. Being nextdoor neighbors with the only other kid on the street is a sure fire way to a fast friendship or a heated rivalry, and it had been the former.

Had been…

Over the last year or so, Mark had been growing increasingly…different? Not really distant, he still hangs out with you and William. Truth be told you’re probably the only friends eachother has, it’s always the three of you, never going more than a few days without hanging out outside of school. But there was clearly something different about him.

He’s seemingly more confident but assuredly more aloof…An odd mix to say the least. He’ll hang out with you and William, but that joking persona of his that would playfully debate comic books and video games had been replaced by someone more…mature? No, that’s not the word…Reserved maybe? Passive perhaps?

Whatever it was, it was a drastic change…But you don’t stop enjoying the weather just because the seasons change. You just…adapt and enjoy them differently.

“Well, just so you know dear Grayson, I am up to nothing today. Our twinkish companion on the otherhand.” Raising your phone to his face, you show him a text William sent you that reads

‘You and Mark at my locker! Meet before class to talk!’

‘Important!’

“What the hell…” Taking your phone in his hands, Mark ignores your chirps of protests as he reads the text over again. “This is all he sent you?”

Snatching your phone from his hands, he lets you take the device from him as he looks down at you with a rather unamused expression.

“That’s all he sent. No context and I’m not dealing with whatever shit William has cooking by myself, so I came to find your first. Not like I didn’t know where to look…” Trailing off at the end there, you sneak a glance at him as he watches you with narrowed eyes and a stern expression.

That’s the one conversation the two of you have been avoiding.

You’ve known for months that he’s Invincible…practically since he got his powers. And you’ve known about Nolan for years…You share a backyard for god sake, it’s a little shocking they thought you wouldn’t find out. And during an intense training session gone a little too far, Nolan threw him through the fence dividing your yards. Your parents weren’t home when it happened…but you were.

Nolan realized a little too late that you were still in the house and sent Mark back inside their home while he…discussed certain things with you. Mark doesn’t know exactly what was said, Nolan simply told him that he’d taken care of it.

You know. He knows you know. And you know that he knows you know. But neither of you dared to bring that up. Deciding that an open secret between the two of you might be the least intense way to deal with it.

“Don’t-”

“I’m not, Mark. I’m not pressing…Just saying…” Deciding it’s best to give him a little space, you put about a little more than a foot of distance between you two as you walk.

Sensing the tension, Mark rolls his shoulders before he speaks, his voice calm and just a tad indignant. “So, what do you think William wants this time?”

“No idea…Maybe he finally got a boyfriend?”

Mark shakes his head in mild disbelief. “No way. No chance he’d keep that a secret long enough to send a cryptic text like that.”

Shrugging, a soft hum leaving your throat, you can’t but kinda believe Mark on that one. The first time William hooked up with someone the two of you were added to a group chat with William while he spammed texted every picture of the guy he could get his hands on…and after they’d broken up it turned into the ‘Shit on Jasper’ group chat…Thankfully that was short lived but the memory does live on.

You tilt your head up just enough to look at Mark who’s deep brown eyes had actually been watching your face, trying to read your reaction more than formulate one of his own. His eyes steady on your features as he scanned you, the way your lip and nose scrunched slightly as you processed…and the slight blush that slowly pricked its way to your ears and cheeks when you realized he was watching you doesn’t escape him either.

Ignoring the slight rising heat in his own cheeks, he looks away and out the window of the hallway as you walk towards William’s locker. It doesn’t take long for your steps to fall into a nearly synched rhythm and pace, sure Mark’s legs are longer than your own but you manage to keep up decently.

William’s locker is wide open as he has his head half buried in it, the metal door clanging against the locker beside it. A low slightly concerned, or maybe just distrusting, hmmm comes from Mark as the two of you close in.

“Yeah…A disgruntled hum is right, Mark. Disgruntled hum indeed…”

Hearing your voice nearing, William pulls his head from the locker and checks to the left then the right, his eyes shimmering with mischief as he shuts the locker door abruptly. A slight snicker and the grin plastered across his face does little to ease your growing concern and Mark’s ever growing distrust. Once you two reach him, Mark crosses his arms over his chest as he looks down at his best friend while you just tilt your head and have a hand on your hip, you two sporting a matching raised eyebrow.

“There you two are! Perfect! I didn’t want to have to explain it twice.” A satisfied inkling in his voice, like he planned it to turn out that way.

“Explain what?”

“What are you planning this time, William?”

“Ah ah Mark!” Pointing towards the taller male, William gently boops Mark’s nose with his finger, only to have the hand shooed away before he continues. “It’s not what I’m planning! It’s the party YOU TWO are planning!”

“Excuse me?” Mark’s voice sour as he dips his head down to get closer to William’s eye level while he glares, already dreading what half assed cockamamie explanation William might try to feed him.

“You heard me! I’ve been doing some research and found that this weekend is the perfect time for it! You’re welcome by the way.”

A heavy sigh leaves your lips as you pinch the bridge of your nose. You should’ve known that nothing William so desperately needed to talk to you two about would’ve actually been serious. You got nervous for nothing…

“William, Mark and I aren’t having a party…”

“Well not yet you’re not but you need to! This weekend is perfect. Really, trust me!”

“Hell no.” You give a quick shake of your head before Mark backs you.

“Wouldn’t trust you with a paper bag, man.”

“UGH! You two are impossible, just listen, alright? Don’t turn down the idea before you hear the pitch!”

You and Mark share a rather annoyed and distrusting look, but the shrug of your shoulders is enough to push Mark to at least hear what William might say. Even if neither of you have any intention of considering what he’d tell you. Motioning for William to go on, Mark leans his shoulder against the nearby row of lockers, rolling his opposite shoulder to work out a knot he’s certain Nolan put there this morning.

“Alright, speak…You have to the bell for Homeroom rings, William.”

“I’ll need half that.” The toothy grin your shared bestie gives you is enough to make your stomach drop…William only gets like this when he’s already made up his mind about something.

“So! Mark, you said your parents aren’t going to be home this weekend right? Said they’re going to a resort for your Dad to write a column about?”

A soft nod is the only response Mark gives him before William turns his attention back to you. “And you said your parents leave tomorrow for a vacation?!”

“Yeah, it’s their anniversary trip. They won’t be back until like…Next Tuesday. I’m on my own after tomorrow.”

Forcing his way in between the two of you, William drapes an arm over your shoulder and has his other hand forcefully pressed to Mark’s shoulder. His head bobbing back and forth to the side to look over both your reactions as he speaks.

“And you have a connected back yard and no nosey fucking neighbors! Plus the big ass deck and firepit at your place Mark-” He shakes Mark’s shoulder excitedly as he speak before William tilts his head back to face you, big eyes pleading-” And your family got that kick ass pool! It’d be perfect for a backyard rager this weekend!”

Mark is the first to pull away, William’s hand falling from his back as he steps away and turns back to glare.

“Not gonna happen.” His voice stern and stoic, his eyes narrowed as he attempts to intimidate William.

“Boooo! God, you’ve become such a fucking bummer recently…”

“Can you really say ‘recently’ if it’s months in the making?” Your jibb catches Mark off guard enough that his eyes dart over to you, more than a little shocked that you sound like you’re taking William’s side. The slightest scrunch of his nose and upper lip twitch practically scream his contempt for the line.

Eyes bright and hopeful, William grabs your shoulders with both hands as he leans in close to your face.

“So you’re in?!”

The slightest twang in Mark’s chest as he sees William pull you so close and invade your personal space like that…He’s not jealous, right? You and William aren’t eachother’s types, the two of you have always had a more…shithead cousin vibe… than anything. Both of you teaming up to pick on Mark more often than not, so why does he suddenly care about that close contact? And why does a small wave of relief wash over him when he sees you lift William’s hand from your shoulder before you shake your head.

“Sorry but no, Will. That’s not in the cards.” Your voice soft and while you do sound a minimal amount of apologetic, the look you're giving William betrays any empathy that could’ve been felt. You're laughing and brandishing a nearly awestruck look as you walk to stand beside Mark, like you’re dumbfounded William would even ask.

“What?! Seriously?!”

Mark holds up his hand like he’s done even entertaining the idea of listening to him anymore. William drops his shoulders and looks like a kicked puppy, pouting at the pair of you like he’s a child that’s just been denied a treat.

“Come on you two! This would be a perfect opportunity! No parents, no supervision, and a kick ass party in your backyard would make or break the two of you in terms of…ya know…Social standing.”

Mark just scoffs and rolls his eyes, his arms still firmly crossed over his chest and his face stern, though he does steal a glance down at you when he hears you snicker. The one he’s all too familiar hearing before you absolutely tear into him about something.

“Like you have any room to talk! We’re like your only friends!” You point at William and snicker more when he makes a disgruntled noise, matching your gesture near perfectly as he pouts at you.

“Hey, I’ve got an ace up my sleeves for the popularity stakes, thank you very much. Only out gay kid in the whole school has its perks.”

“Didn’t I have to kick Todd’s ass last week because he called you a slur?”

“I didn’t say it was all perks, Mark. But you two can’t deny it, as far as popularity goes you don’t have much going for you.”

“And who cares about that?” Mark pushes himself off of the locker he’s leaning on and looms over William and you.

“See, when you say that Mark, it would be cool and imposing…If you weren’t the guy everyone knows is obsessed with Seance Dog comics. You even had a glow up this year! I mean just look at these guns!” Unwavering in the danger he doesn’t even know he’s in the presence of, William reaches forward and grabs Mark’s upper arm in his hands and squeezes, smirking when Mark pulls the appendage away quickly.

“Really, you could be a good catch! You just need a little work…” The teasing tone in his tone simply earns him a glare before William turns to look at you.

“And you-”

“Don’t even start, Clockwell. Don’t start.”

“Well…I wasn’t going to say anything positive anyway soo….” His sass ears him a punch in the arm from you as you laugh along with him, Mark watching before he gets William with a finishing move.

“You’re talking like someone who actually has a partner. But you’re just as single as us.”

“OWNED!” You guffaw as you punch William’s arm again, reaching your other fist out to Mark who gently finishes the fist bump, the slightest uptick of the corner of his mouth when he connects it.

“Ah ha…Ah ha. Very funny, you two…But really, what’s the hold up?! Your parent sets are pretty chill! Why the denial?!”

“My mom would try to kill me, William. And my dad just might help her.”

“And it already took me forever to convince my parents to let me go to that concert next month! Only reason they even said yes is because you got an extra ticket and we’re dragging this one!” Throwing your thumb towards Mark, you recall just how long you had to beg for your parents to go to the aforementioned gig.

“Why exactly was I the deciding factor in that?”

“Dude.” Dropping your head and cocking it to the side, you look at Mark with a ‘Really motherfucker?’ expression, your jaw slack slightly as you stare at him.

“Really, Mark? You’re built like a brick wall now! My parents were cool with it before but once they heard you were coming they didn’t bat an eye.”

His jaw and shoulders relax momentarily at the praise, the compliments sort of striking a nerve with him as he looks between the two of you. Neither of you are particularly intimidating or buff, so he does stand out from you two in terms of both muscle and height. He doesn’t even notice that you and William start talking amongst yourselves as he stares,his mind wandering as he remembers back to when the three of you were younger…

The innocence of childhood long gone…Before he knew about his Dad. Before he got his powers…Before he knew about the mission.

He doesn’t process William’s question or even react to your hand waving infront of his face as you try to get his attention. The only thing that pulls him back is the sudden sharp ring of a bell in his ears that makes him flinch slightly, his eyes blinking rapidly before he looks back down to the two of you.

“What? Huh? What’s up?” Trying to act like he totally hadn’t spaced out there, Mark hikes his backpack up more on his shoulder, his attempts to brush off the lost look he had in his eyes failing.

“ I asked if you were sure about the no party thing but then I asked if you wanted something to drink.” A snide smirk sprawled on William’s face as he chuckles to himself, his hand waving goodbye as he turns on his heel to head towards his class.

“Drink…What?” Looking down at you expectantly, Mark starts walking towards his class, going to same direction as you as you cackle to yourself.

“Cause you’re thirsty as fuck man.” Your voice low and hushed as you turn your head up and wiggle your eyebrows at him as you walk, elbowing him in the side slightly as you two walk past Eve and a few of her friends. The redhead takes a quick glance to Mark before looking back to her friends, the small group giggling slightly as you pass.

“Huh? Wait, who? Me-No.” Shaking his head dismissively, Mark rolls his eyes again as he remembers what his father told him earlier. “Not gonna happen.”

“I dunno, you two would make a cute couple! Plus you were totally checking her out man.”

“I was not.”

“You so were”

“I was not!”

“Ohhh touchy touchy!” Poking his arm, your sing songy voice hanging in the air as you round a corner and head to class together. “There’s the sassy ass Mark Grayson I know and love! Between that almost believable declaration and that jab at William earlier, I’d say my bestie is still deep down in there!” You jump up to rough up his hair while basically cackling. “Just gotta get through this hard ass persona first…Deep down you're still a big ole softie!”

The familiar sound of you laugh hits Mark differently that time…There’s something so hopeful in your words. Part of him wants you to be right. The softest smile slips onto his face as he watches you, eyes tracing the way your hair curls over your face as you laugh and the dimples just barely visible in your cheeks. Maybe…Maybe deep down in him is the same Mark as before…Maybe he could keep that part too. Even if it’s just for you.

He found himself clinging to little pieces of himself like that over the next two weeks. Both his parents took notice of the sudden shift, the slight backwards correction. A little less reserved, a little more jokey, a little less serious…But only when he’s with you. He was doing some on ground sparring with Nolan in the backyard when your head popped over the edge of the fence line, your arms pulling yourself up more so your chin is above the top of the fence so you can look over.

“Grayson!” Your almost panicked call grabbing everyone’s attention, Nolan and Mark who were in the grass turn their heads to you as Debbie looks up from her book. Her expression softens when she sees you, closing her book so that she can watch Mark jog over to their side of the fence to talk to you. Nolan senses that it’ll be atleast a few minutes before they start back up so he walks back over to his wife, standing beside where Debbie is sitting with his arms crossed over his chest. His eyes narrowing as he sees Mark smile almost a little too wide when he starts talking to you.

“Looks like someone might be a little smitten…” Debbie says sweetly, her voice soft and hushed as so only her husband can hear her.

“They have been coming over more often lately…” Nolan starts, his eyes focusing on the way you seem to giggle and act a little too touchy with his son.

“What? No, Nolan. I mean Mark! He’s been coming out of his shell a little more lately…Plus, look at the way they’re flirting…It’s like they don’t even know they’re doing it.”

Eyes slowly shifting from you to Mark, his expression hardens as he sees Mark practically run over to the fence’s gate to head into your yard, quickly calling out to his parents that he’s going to be hanging with you for a little while.

“I don’t think they need to be together like that.”

“What are you talking about?! You’ve always liked them being friends.”

“Yeah, just that. Friends. If Mark’s going to date someone it needs to be someone like him.”

“And just what kind of person would that be exactly, Nolan? Someone powered or?” Debbie crosses her arms and glares up at him, words trailing off as Nolan meets her gaze.

“No, I just mean…Debbie. Mark just needs someone more on his level. They’re good friends…I just don’t think they need to be dating.”

Debbie doesn’t respond, she simply rises from her seat and slams her book against his chest and heads inside, unwilling to have that conversation in the backyard so close to where the two of you could hear.

Later that night, Mark hops that back fence into his yard with a soft and comfortable smile on his face, his eyes soft and shoulders relaxed as he crosses the yard. His newfound lightness undone when he sees Nolan standing on the porch waiting for him.

“Dad, what’s going on?”

“We need to talk.”

Cut to that weekend, the three of you piled into William’s car and drove two hours away to the venue the concert is being held at. You all left way before you really needed to all just to get in line hours before doors open, trying your damnedest to get the best seats you could. This was more a show for you and William, Mark only tagging along to put your parents at ease and for William to not have bought him a ticket for nothing…William had already decided he was dragging Mark out of his house over the weekends, he’d been spending too much time cooped up and the concert was a good excursion for the group.

Two hours in and you and William are happily enjoying the crowded pit. Singing and dancing without much regard for the world around you outside these walls. The lights are dimmed but the darkness is cut by the strobe lights and the pyrotechnics on stage, the sound coming from the stage so loud that you can practically feel the beat deep in your chest, your ears once ringing from the volume now completely adapted to your loud environment. Your throat scratchy and raw from singing at the top of your lungs and you’d be lying if you said your head wasn’t pounding from the excitement.

In your excitement, you and William both neglected to keep an eye on your 6 foot friend. It’s only when the music lowers, calming down and the lights shifting to lighter less intense hues as the headliners play the second half of their set list, mostly lighter songs instead of the heavier stuff they started with.

Coughing into your arm, you struggle to form words as you take a desperate sip of the water bottle you bought before the show started, your eyes scanning the floor as you search for Mark. Feeling you tug on his shirt, William leans down to try and hear you better as the music, even though the songs are lighter, the volume is still overwhelming.

“H-Hey…Wh-where’s Mark?” Your hoarse voice barely registers in his ears, looking over to where he thought Mark was, William’s eyes widen when he sees Mark is MIA. Whipping his head around and standing on his toes, William tries in vain to scan the crowd for your missing friend.

You crane your head backwards and scan the overhead section, your eyes struggling to see in the dark as you search for him. The soft shifting color glow from above the stage and surrounding upper lighting lining the walls of the section that overlooks the pit, only when the lights change from a darker purple and silver strobe to a lighter pinkish orange can you make out the outline of Mark…

His left elbow and arm against the railing as his leans, his back straight and shoulders squared as he overlooks the crowd. Not the stage…The crowd. You can’t tell where exactly he’s looking but you could swear he’s looking right at you and William. Elbowing your bestie in the side, William catches your sightline and struggles to follow it until he sees Mark.

Shaking his head and scoffing, William turns his head back towards the stage while muttering something about Mark being too ‘antisocial’ these days.

You can’t seem to pull your eyes from Mark. He isn’t reacting or acknowledging anyone near him.  He’s totally focused on whatever, or whoever, it is that he’s looking at. It’s like he’s frozen in time, standing on the upper level looking down at everyone below him but only caring about one person.

In that moment, the only two people in the club are Mark and whoever managed to catch his attention so fully.

The lighting shifts from a light pink to a deeper red, his body fading into the dark lighting but the silhouette of his body looming is forever etched in your mind.

In another world, one just a mere fifteen feet above the pit floor stands Mark. His body leaning against the railing as his eyes are on a fixed point. One that he hasn’t managed to bring himself to pull his eyes from since the moment the three of you stepped foot into this venue.

You.

It’s always been you….

The words Nolan said to him replaying in his mind the whole night. His hand gripping around the railing and crushing the metal easily under his palm as he reminds himself…

“Mark, it’s just not…the best idea for you to date them. It’s better for you to date someone..different. Stronger. More capable. Think of…think about them. They can’t protect themselves if they get involved with you like that.”

“But I can protect-”

“Mark, listen to me. These people…they’re weak. They’re fragile.”

“But you told me to date! You told me to-”

“I told you to date someone worth your time! Someone compatible! Somebody that would be fucking useful to you! You need to think about what’s best for the empire. What’s best for the mission.”

“But you said-”

“I know what I said, Mark! I’m not telling you that you can’t be around them but at the end of the day, you come from two very different worlds. And you need to understand that.”

“I can’t just not…Dad, please!”

“Mark…Just…Just give some distance, alright? Don’t get too attached to them. Just learn to love from afar…”

And that’s what he’s doing now…Watching you from above. His eyes trailing every inch of your body and committing everything he can to memory…Because one day, one day soon, he knows that’s all he’ll have of you…

Or so he thought…

Coughing as you fan the dirt away from your face, you struggle to look up at the person in front of you. Slowly descending down, Omni-Mark’s eyes flash back to the last day he saw you, your bloody body dangling lifeless from his father’s hold. So now, seeing you alive and well again, standing right here after you just called out for him? He hates to admit that it sent a shiver down his spine.

“M-Mark?”

“It’s me…”

You know it’s a lie, your Mark would never don that iconic red and white suit that’s clinging to him now. He doesn’t even really sound like your Mark, this one sounds way more serious and grave.

“Why-why are you…” Against your better judgement you take a few hesitant steps towards him, your hand resting on his chest before finding the strength to finish the line. “Wearing his costume?”

Your eyes tear riddled as you speak, your breath catching in your chest as you let out a choked cry.You remember what he did…You remember what Omni-Man did to the world. What he did to Mark…

So why?

A strong hand reaches out to cup your chin and force you to look at him, his eyes hidden before the mask but you know Mark, any Mark, well enough to read his body language. His jaw clenched tensely as you rub his thumb along your bottom lip. This is closeness he never got to experience with his version you…He resents every stolen moment.

“M-Mark?”

“I did it…because of you.”

“Di-Did what? Wh-what happen-”

You're cut off by him gently shushing you, he doesn’t pull you closer but his voice lulls you deeper into him.

“I did what I did…So that he could never hurt someone the way he hurt you…He took you from me and I-I needed to take everything from him in return…”

“Mar-Mark…You need to explain what you mean, that-that’s really vague…” Your nervous chuckle does little to help your nerves but it seems to sooth him more.

“In time…I’ve waited long enough to be with you…”

He doesn’t ask your permission to lift you, he doesn’t even give you the chance to protest before he’s scooped you into his arms. With one arm under your knees and the other around your back for support, he pulls you close, almost forcing your head to lean against his chest. Your shocked yelps and shaky questions are once again only met with soft shushing.

“Please, just let me hold you…I’ve missed you too much.”

Chapter Text

Right there...Pt.6(ish) //Chase Scene//

X Neighbor!Reader is back! Soo I told y'all you'd be getting the NoGoggles/Lensless variant chase scene and I'm finally delivering! Sorry it's been a hot hot minuet since an update on this, promise it's not dead but I had other stuff I wanted to write and life came up too lol.

This is a direct continuation of Pt.3 so if ya haven't read that one, click on to it down below. Ya don't need 4 & 5(might even renumber this one later but we'll see lol)

Pt.1, Pt.2, Pt.3, Pt.4, Pt.5- GN! and 18+

It didn’t matter where you were running to. The only thing that mattered was the distance you managed to put between you and Mark.

No. Calling him Mark felt wrong. It felt like an insult to your friend. Your Mark would’ve never pinned you to the ground and forced himself against you like that. The Mark you knew would’ve never said such lewd things to you, whispering dirty thoughts and desires in your ear while kissing your neck…

No…No that wasn’t Mark. Not your Mark.

That man was someone entirely different. A man whose mere presence can fill you with dredd. The type that would seek out that which he covets most with no reckless abandon. The kind of person who would simply take whatever he wants…

And he wants you.

You don’t turn back as you run. Your kick to the groin didn’t do much, but it did enough. All you needed was an out. Just a small window to try to escape from him.

He hits the ground with a heavy thud, his fists colliding with the dirt as he’s doubled over in pain.  A few choked out coughs and dry heaves just barely catch your ears as you veer off the trail.

Deciding that your best chance is to lose him in the woods, you force the memory of all those warning signs that you passed when you started your jog this afternoon out of your mind. You only have two options, take your chance with rocky and unsteady forest terrain or take your chances with a (possibly) mentally unstable Viltrumite…

Yeah, the woods have it.

Sliding down a steep embankment, you struggle to keep your footing as you venture further into the woods. Wading through the shortest part of the brush, your legs get scratched as you run deeper into the vegetation, thorns and sticks from inside the bush catch on your clothing as you tear yourself from the foliage desperately as you run.

You’d been on an inclined portion of the trail when you’d met your…admirer…and are now forced to descend without a proper path.

Hissing in pain, you feel a few tears prick to your eyes as the branches and thorns dig into your skin. Your left foot gets caught on the stem of the last bush before your path clears, losing your balance as you try and wiggle your foot free, you slip and collide onto the forest floor. Bracing yourself as best you can, you land awkwardly on your right side, your wrist twisting roughly beneath you as you let out a quick sharp yelp.

In your struggle, you’d neglected to pay attention to whether or not you can hear him.

Sitting up as best you can, you reach down and wrap your fingers around the twisted stem of the bush that’s ensnared you, halting your attempt to run away. Mildly recoiling your right hand, you wince as you force yourself despite the throbbing pain coming from your hand to tighten your hold of the stem. Your right hand is already noticeably weaker but that doesn’t stop you from trying. The rough wood digs into your fingers as you tug the root, clumps of dirt kicking up with each pull as you force the stem from the ground.

Pulling your leg forward, you free yourself from the bush at an agonizingly slow pace but its the best you can do. The skin of your fingers and palms are already raw from the rough bark while the underside of the root digs into your ankle, somehow having wrapped itself around your foot when you fell but soon you’re free.

Small cuts litter the lower part of your legs while an already darkening bruise has formed halfway around your ankle, your low cut sneaker having done little to protect you in the struggle.

Your chest heaving as you struggle to catch your breath, you start to get up to continue further into the woods but are stopped in your tracks when you see him…

About 300 feet away, floating down the embankment you practically fell down, Mark has his back to you as he scans the area off in the distance. His hands resting on his hips, his head cocked to the side slightly, and there’s a barely audible hum coming from him…Like he’s amused by the whole thing.

Just barely off the forest floor, Mark silently moves through the air as he almost lazily looks around for you. By some divine intervention, the wind kicks up and the trees bend and give way to the breeze. The more fervent sounds of the trees and bushes rustling and shaking around acting like a cover for you.

Your unsteady hand slowly rises to your face, covering your mouth and nose to try and silence any gasps or audible breath that might give away your not so hidden position. Pushing yourself down and to the side, you lay nearly flat behind the brush you’d just freed yourself from. Through the entangled branches and thick leaves, you can just barely see Mark’s hovering form slowly moving away from you.

By some grace of god, he never turned around…

Pretty soon he’s out of your sightline, having disappeared beyond some trees as he searches in the wrong direction for you. Slowly lifting yourself, your eyes feverishly scan where you last saw him, hoping that there might be enough distance between the two of you now so that you can get up from your hiding spot.

Bringing yourself to your feet, you bite your lip as you feel your left ankle buckle from its budding injury, a sharp pain radiating up as you limp away. With steps as light as you can muster, you fumble through the woods. The densely populated treeline turning to a more spacious outcropping, tall trees and various bushes, shrubs, and tall rock formations still surrounds you but it’s more open than before. You can navigate through the woods better with far greater visibility than you could in the more dense area you’ve just escaped from.

You can see better.

But so can he.

Having had no luck in playing fair, Mark flew up into the sky after he lost your trail when you ran off. Looking down into the forest from above, he simply hovered just above the treeline to search for you, still contently humming as he did so. Quickly locating you, a small smirk slowly spreads across his face. The humming stops and instead becomes a soft whistle.

It’s devoid of all rhythm and all tune. Noise…It’s simply just noise.

Watching you from above, he whistles idly as he sees you make your way deeper into the woods. Your limping form shakily ducks behind trees and bushes, your head moving back and forth as you scan for something that you can’t seem to find.

“Awww…Somebody misses me~” Saying to noone but himself, Mark smirks as his own sing-songy voice echoes away from him. And he doesn’t miss the way it catches your attention. He can see your head whip to the side, staring intently in one direction as you hide yourself behind the tree you're practically clinging to.

To your credit, that is the direction he’s in. It’s just that he’s about 45 feet higher than you’re looking.

You don’t see him and you’re hoping all you heard was just his fucked up attempt to find you—some sick version of marco polo— but in the back of your mind you’re almost certain that’s just wistful thinking. Deciding that sense you can’t see him that it might be safe for you to venture further. Pushing yourself from the tree, you limp between the next batch of brush, internally cursing yourself for the direction you picked when you notice how the ground starts to decline soon in the distance.

“Damn it…It really is all downhill from here…” You mutter to yourself as you shift your weight, wincing as you tweak your already weaker ankle as you start down the slope.

A now familiar dark snicker cuts through the otherwise quiet air.

“Someone’s more sour than sweet…”

Your breath hitches in your throat and your heart stops when you hear him. You don’t need to look back to know who it is but you can’t stop yourself. Throwing your head over your left shoulder, your eyes widen when you finally see him again.

Slowly descending from the air with his hands still resting on his chest, Mark smirks when he sees just how much your legs are shaking as you look at him. He raises an eyebrow when he sees you take a hesitant step backwards, your foot kicking a few loose pebbles around before it plants itself…almost like you’re planning something.

This is a true fight or flight moment…But there’s no way you win in a fight with him.

“M-Mark…I…”

“Shhh, shhh…Baby, I’m not mad.”

“You’re…not?” Your confusion plain as day in the way your voice wavers and your shoulders shake as you look at him.

Licking his lips, Mark drops down onto the ground for the first time since he started lurking after you before he takes a slow, nonthreatening step towards your frozen form. You should by all accounts just swing for it and run away from him, but there’s something in the way he’s looking at you…Something almost familiar in those brown eyes.

Whatever it is, whatever is hidden behind those eyes, is managing to keep you right where he wants you.

“Course not. Baby, I’m so fucking excited…”

With as much sternness as you can muster, you force a glare towards him with a furrowed brow. “Why?”

His shoulders shake lightly as he lets out another chuckle while he walks towards you. With each step he takes in your direction, you flinch everytime you hear small twigs snap under his boots. He slowly closes his eyes as he reaches forward and removes a leaf from your hair, tossing it off to the side before he moves his hand down to your chin, tilting your head to look up at him properly.

As he opens his eyes, a strong chill runs up your spine as your pupils dilate. Taking in a sharp breath, you lip quivers as your gaze is held hostage by his. You feel your shoulders stiffen and your knees lock as his dark eyes radiate an unwavering sense of cruelty, undercut by the thin smile spread across his face.

Those piercing eyes feel like they’re burning right through you. He’s looking at you like you’re nothing more than meat or a plaything…Whichever suits him better at the given moment.

“You know I love chasing you like this…I love it when you run from me.”

His head now cocked to the side, Mark runs his hand from your chin up to the back of your head, his fingers lacing in your hair before he forces himself closer, you still staying locked in place as he whispers in your ear.

Whatever words you might’ve said are caught in your throat as he speaks. His voice low and steely in your ear.

“Don’t let me catch you so quickly…I want a real game this time.”

He bends down just enough to drag his tongue along the side of your exposed neck, ignoring the bit of dirt speckled on your flesh from the fall. Pressing his lips to the tender skin, Mark starts slow as he kisses against your neck. You think he’s only going to suck a hickey into you, but when you feel him pull back his lips, another jolt of nerves rushes through you.

“Ahhh-! Fuc-FUck! Mar-Mark!” Crying out you press your palms into his chest as you try to push him away from you but it’s no use.

Slowly, he sinks his teeth into the side of your neck, his sharp canines piercing the tender flesh easily. Despite your thrashing and protests, once he has his teeth embedded in you, he holds you there as you cry out against him, tears running down your cheeks.

Abruptly ripping his teeth from your neck and pulling away, he lets you force distance between the two of you as you back away. Your back hitting the trunk of a tree while you watch him bewildered, a hand coming up to cup the wound that’s still bleeding as you look at him shocked.

A proud grim smile on his face as he brings the palm of his hand up to his chin, a small trail of your blood rolling down as he wipes his chin before he brings his hand to his mouth.  Tongue lapping out to swipe up the excess, he never once breaks the gaze you two are sharing. His tongue still poking and prodding around, licking over his lips excitedly as he watches you with growing anticipation.

“W-why…”

“You.” Pointing towards you, he lulls his head to the side playfully as he cackles at your question before he answers. “Are my prey…I needed to remind you what’s gonna happen when I catch you. So…” Trailing off at the end, he closes the gap between the two of you, and rests one hand on the side of the tree beside your head.

Moving his head towards the opposite side, you can feel his breath tickle against your neck as he snickers after he sees you flinch when he fakes going in for a second bite.

“There you are…I just wanted you more into it before we played again…Understand?”

Instead of answering him with a yes or a no, you simply nod your head slowly before he smirks, seemingly in approval or agreement at your acknowledgment.

“Good…So…”

Standing up straighter, he pulls himself from your personal space before he holds up his hand.

All five fingers spread apart.

Then he curls his thumb in slowly.

Then next in is his pinkie while he looks at you expectantly.

When you don’t move, he gives another dark chuckle before speaking. “Guess you wanna get caught again, huh?”

That’s when your brain finally registers what he’s doing…

You push yourself off the tree and run down the slope as fast as you can, trying your best to ignore the sharp pain that seemingly gets worse every time you force your left foot down as you run. Barely managing to keep your balance as you run you let out panicked and choked breaths as you struggle to keep your composure.

You make the mistake of turning your head while you’re running away to try and see where Mark is. He’s standing right where you left him, but only for a second. It’s like he was waiting for you to turn back to look at him. His eyes catch yours right before you blink and when you reopen them he’s gone.

Only for a second though because the flash of blue and yellow and the sudden gust of wind to your left tell you everything you need to know. Snapping your head back around, you see Mark not even 10 feet ahead of you, a sinister grin plastered across his face as his shoulders shake from his stifled laughter. Dirt and leaves kicked up behind him in a plume showing just how fast he was going, just to abruptly stop to get you.

Your legs slide out from under you as you try to stop, slamming into the ground before you clamor to your feet again and take off in a different direction. Limping with every step, tears brim in your eyes as you fumble through the woods. Shoulders clipping bushes as you’re barely able to get up to a jog now.

Your legs feel heavy and your vision starts to blur from exhaustion as you run, all the excitement and stress, the pain and the not too insignificant blood loss all slowly catching up with you.

An unruly laugh echoes all around you in the air as you run. You’ve got no way of trying to decipher where he might be coming from next. With yours clenched tight, you don’t even care where you’re running to now…

Every bump or trash into a tree directs you in whatever direction it does.

You can’t focus on where to run…all you know is that you need to run…That’s all you can do now.

But that won’t last long.

You don’t know how long you ran like that for but it wasn’t going to be an option anymore. Whether it was your ankle finally succumbing to its injury or your legs finally giving out from this overzealous amount of cardio, you collapse to the ground just as you start going down another slope.

Your exhausted body hits the ground and starts tumbling down and sliding along the steep slope. Tucking your body in as much as you can for your own protection, you curl your arms in tight and try to protect your head. Fallen branches and twigs snap as your body rolls, a string of cries can be heard as you’re tumbled against the rough terrain. Your already hurt ankle taking quite the beating and your other leg not faring much better in the ordeal.

Your 1v1 with mother nature is cut short, your back slamming against a fallen tree as your body finally stops rolling down. A cacophony of low anguished groans just barely above a whisper leaves your lips, in your weak state you’re just barely able to lift yourself up enough to sit up against the fallen tree trunk.

A long gash along the side of your right leg drips blood as your left ankle throbs in pain…Your upper body actually fared much better, the only injury above your waist is the dull ache slowly spreading out from your back and the small cut over your eyebrow that looks allot worse than it actually is.

Despite the blurry vision plaguing your drained state, you manage to lift your head enough to look up at the figure slowly approaching you slowly. You can make out the blue and yellow and can’t help the pit that forms in your stomach when he kneels down in front of you.

Surprisingly, a gentle hand comes forward to wipe away some of the dirt and blood splattered across your face, the blood smearing more than actually getting off but still the attempt was made.

“AH-Fuc-fuck…” Mewling in pain, you wither against the fallen tree, the only thing you can do is look at the man infront of you before you’re almost too gently shushed by him.

“Shhh…Shhh…Just take it easy…” Hushed and restrained, this is the most muted you’ve seen him.

Your breathing slowly steadies out as you lean back, your eyes slowly closing as you try to get some rest, even though that’s probably not the best idea given the head wound…

“Hey, no sleeping. I’m not…I’m not losing you again…”

You force the smallest chuckle you can out before you slowly open your eyes to look at him. That’s the most genuine or heartfelt thing he’s said throughout this whole endeavour.

“Gue…Guess that means the ga-game’s over…”

When did you even start playing…When did this switch from you terrified of this man to actively playing into his delusions? Truth be told you don’t even know. But right now, he’s the closest thing to comfort you can get ahold of and you’re not letting go.

“Yeah and I won.” The slightest bit of amusement laces his voice as he reaches his hand forward to push a strand of your hair out of the way. Your hair clinging to the blood and sweat on your forehead

“H-huh? Bu-”

“No buts. I caught you…” leaning forward, he gives a soft kiss to the side of your neck he didn’t bite earlier before he whispers in your ear. “I just can’t play with you when you’re already broken like this.”

Chapter Text

He wastes no time in delivering on his teasing, lustfilled taunt. His nose gingerly, almost too soft for the tone he’s set thus far, trails along the length of your neck. With his left hand on your shoulder to keep you still, you don’t miss the sharp inhale he takes of you as his right hand slowly slides up your arm. Trapped between a large oak and an unstable possible threat, you struggle against his hold but he gives no reprimand, just a dark chuckle that sends a chill down your spine.

Despite the forced closeness, you still deny him the pleasure of seeing your blown pupils and hearing the shakiness of your voice. With your eyes screwed shut you can’t see the cruel grin spreading across his face as he hooks his middle finger under the collar of your shirt. Instinctively, your eyes fly open and you tug yourself away from his touch as you glare.

“There’s my girl! I never liked it when you were too submissive.”

His left hand shoots off of your shoulder to roughly grab your chin and force your eyes to meet his, though the sweet brown eyes you’ve found yourself getting lost in with your Mark are hidden behind pitch black goggles with unknown intent deep within them.

“Fuck off!” Trying in vain to free yourself, you struggle against him while another dark snicker rings in your ear. You feel his warm breath spread against your exposed flesh as he tugs your collar to the side, his tongue flush against your clavicle for a quick lick before he pulls back and flashes a far too toothy smirk at you for your liking.

“You wanted me to bite you. So let me have a taste!” Forcing your head to the side roughly, this Mark dips his head down. The next thing you feel is the sharp pain that rips through your shoulder as his teeth pierce your skin. He’s only emboldened by the choked sob that leaves you. The tears that spring to your eyes and threaten to roll down your cheeks cloud your vision, your nails digging into the muscle of his upper arms as you try in vain to force him from you.

His tongue runs over the piece of you that’s trapped between his teeth, as he laps at the crimson that’s pooling around the punctures you hear a low growl deep in his throat that you swear you can feel against your skin. The top of his head practically nuzzles against the side of his neck as you feel him increase the force behind his bite, his teeth sinking just a little deeper into your flesh as you squirm, like he’s trying to keep you right where you are against him.

With him still latched against you, the tears that collected in your eyes roll down your cheeks as you try to calm yourself…He presses himself against you more, your body now perfectly trapped between the large tree behind you and the fiend in front of you. The one that looks just like one of your closest friends. The one that you just might let pin you to a wall like this under different circumstances…

As you close your eyes you imagine Mark, your Mark, doing this to you. The sweet touches he’d give your body as he kisses your neck, his lips leaving soft butterfly pecks to your skin before he finally captures your lips. How his soft hair would tickle the side of your neck as he would whisper in your ear and how he would smirk at the blush that dusts across your face…But that's not what's happening here and this isn’t your Mark.

With a loud smack of his lips, this Mark finally lets go of you and pulls back wearing a satisfied grin, the corners of his mouth and his lips red from your blood. He lets go of your chin and runs the hand through his messied black hair, fingers forcing the stray locks out of his face as he looks you over with a pleased smirk, the red corners of his mouth ticking upwards as he catches your heated glare.

You’re clutching the wound with your right hand, your shirt now stained with a mix of his saliva and your blood as you apply pressure to the site while never once taking your eyes off of him. With shaking shoulders and heaving chest, you still manage to choke out a curse just for him.

“You stay the hell away from me!” Every word laced with venom but meaningless since he still has you trapped right where he wants you.

“What’s wrong, baby? I know you fucking loved that.”

“You’re a fucking psyc-Achk!!” Your jeer cut off as Mark lunges his hand forward again, this time his palm now pressed against your jugular while his gloved fingers lace around your throat. Even behind those opaque goggles you can feel the fierceness in his eyes, his brows furrowed as he watches unamused as your eyes widen while you’re in his grasp.

The familiar look of the man before lured you into a false sense of safety, ironic given what he’d just done to your shoulder, but in the back of your mind you still held onto the hope that somewhere in this Mark there was something reminiscent of yours. A good guy who wouldn’t hurt you, not in any real way. A person that still cared about you.

Oh how very wrong you are.

“Wanna finish that thought? You might look like mine, but she behaves so much better than you do. But you don’t seem totally hopeless…Would be a shame to waste the chance to break you twice” Trailing off, Mark runs his thumb along the underside of your jaw as he thinks.

While his gripe tightens around your throat, you let out a small choked mewl that borders on erotic. He knows you can breathe just fine, he isn’t restricting your windpipe that much and he doubts you’d pass out from this fairly muted grab. However, upon closer inspection he gets a glimpse of a few uncanny similarities between you and his version of you.

The quiver of your lip as you get used to the feeling of his hand wrapped around your throat, the way your eyes glaze over as your lips part with another stifled moan. The final nail is the darkening of your cheeks while your weakening knees turn to press against each other as you're held in place.

That’s when the idea pops into his head. One that’ll prove whether or not you’d be worth his time…

With a wicked air surrounding the two of you, Mark leans in and swipes across your bottom lip with his tongue before flashing a grin that makes your stomach drop. You get a decent look at his sharp canines before he speaks in a low hostile tone, the fading scent of copper from his lips is almost enough to distract you from his free hand that slides up your shirt.

Almost.

The breathy gasp that slips from you betrays the disdain in your eyes. Watching you intently, Mark continues to slide his hand further up your shirt, his fingers tracing over the bottom of your bra before pushing it upward, freeing you tits before he roughly grabs ahold of one. You bite your bottom lip trying to hide any moans that threaten out of you while he runs a gloved thumb over your already hardening nipple.

The whines he manages from you only encourage his actions as he continues to abuse the tender bud, pinching it between his thumb and pointer finger while watching your reactions. A slew of pants and wavering breaths slip from you as you screw your eyes shut, trying your best to avoid seeing the widening grin gracing Mark’s face.

“I knew you were into me. I know your body better than you do, babe. I promise you that.”

“You-you don’t know anything about me…Y-You’re just some sick freak who-who looks like him…” You muster the strength to try and deny his hold of you, both physically and mentally, though he sees through your tepid denial.

Giving a scolding pinch to your bud, Mark snickers darkly at the squeal that you fail to hold back before he leans in to whisper in your ear.

“So you’d let that fucking loser version of me do this to you?” While awaiting your answer, he gives another rough squeeze to your breast that forces your answer before you could even really process the question.

“Ngh-! Y-Yes!”

Another grim chuckle leaves Mark before he speaks, his voice scornful as he gives you a warning. An insight into what’s to come your way.

“I’m gonna show you who owns you.”

Mark finally relaxes his hold of your neck, his hand lazily sliding down along your neck and sternum before it joins his other under your shirt, wasting no time before he cups your other breast. Sucking in a sharp inhale, you tilt your head to the side as you unintentionally arch your back and force yourself deeper into his touch. Gloved fingers nimbly work over you, alternating between kneading your mounds with strong hands working unnaturally gingerly to targeted assaults that nearly bring you to tears with their intensity.

With every pinch and tweak you feel yourself coming more and more undone for him.

For Mark.

Your voice grows louder with each pass of his hands over you. The idea of holding back your voice has long left your mind by this point. Desperate moans spill from your lips, each pinch earning another squeal or mewl in pleasure and delight as he toys with you. Your cries echoing out into the woods, your voice carrying on the still air of the running trail that you were ambushed on.

You should hate this. You should hate him. But there’s some part of you that can’t help but yearn for more of his touch.

“M-Mark…” You call his name in barely more than a whisper but the second you dare speak it’s like he decides to punish you. The pleasure he’s giving you is suddenly gone, his hands dropping to slide along your side as he smirks down to you. Your flustered expression only furthers his excitement for what’s yet to come. He can see your blown pupils darting across his face as you try to rationalize what’s going on, your lips so swollen from you biting back your moans that they look kiss stricken.

“I told you I was gonna show you who owns you” His stern voice holds your attention despite your racing thoughts. “Starting with this.” He continues as he cups your chin in his hand, his thumb running over your bottom lip as he scans your face for a reaction. Any indication that you follow his insinuation.

The dots connect in your mind almost instantly, your jaw dropping for just an instance in shock  before you snap it shut to not give him the wrong impression about your willingness.

“Listen, that’s not-.”Shaking your head in disbelief, you go to deny him but stop when you feel him grab your wrist, your thought cut off by the sudden action. Your voice is stuck in your throat when he forces your hand against his hardened cock that’s hidden behind the fabric of his suit, you hadn’t noticed the growing erection the whole time he was fondling you and you’re silently cursing yourself for your lack of situational awareness. You can clearly see the bulging outline of him, you just hadn’t noticed while you were so lost in your own pleasure.

“No, you listen!” Demanding. Stern. Authoritative… That’s the only way you could describe his voice as he corrects you. “You called me down to you. You’re the one that’s been dressed like a tease in front of me this whole time. You even let me put such a pretty mark on your neck.” His taunts as his eyes scan over the bite on your shoulder that you’re sure is going to scar, all while his hand forces yours against his throbbing cock that’s still unfairly tucked away in his suit.

“I even made you feel good, right?” The question is only accentuated when he gives a playful flick to one of your nipples, both buds still so eager to be toyed with that they poke through the fabric of your shirt. Yelping from the sudden pain, that’s laced with pleasure, from your already tender nipple, you try to recoil your touch from his hold but he doesn’t let you. Instead, he forces your hand to lay flatly against his aching cock, your hand isn’t able to get an accurate feel for how large he is still trapped within his suit.

“So you owe me this.”

With you still cupped in his hand, Mark presses his thumb against your lips and attempts to goad you into opening them without saying a single word. You tremble at the attention and against your better judgement, you hesitantly part your lips for him.

“Good girl.” In a silent praise, he traces the outline of your lips with his thumb a few times before he forces the digit into your mouth.Forcing open your mouth more, Mark runs his thumb along your teeth gently before he settles it onto your tongue. He runs his thumb back and forth across the top of your tongue, dipping it under the sides just to see how you’d react. Even through his suit can he tell how warm and inviting your mouth feels.

His mouth twitched upward as his face twisted into a lust drunk sneer. He holds you in place as he stares down at you, a million illicit thoughts running through his head as he sees how well you take him, practically suckling on his thumb as you relax. The tender softness of your lips, the tiny adjustments you make to your jaw as you settle your mouth around him, the dazed look that glazes over your eyes as you watch him hesitantly.

As he drags his thumb over your bottom lip as he removes it, careful not to wipe all the saliva from you off before he brings his gloved digit to his own lips. Swiping his tongue across, he takes a taste of you before he speaks.

“That pretty mouth of yours is going to feel so good around me…”

A strong hand presses against your injured shoulder as he forces you down onto your knees, and as you flinch away from the painful pressure you inadvertently display an eagerness that earns you a condescending head pat once you're kneeling before him. His hand brutishly rubs against your head as you’re forced closer to his bulging erection, your nose brushing against it as he moves his hand to the back of your head to keep you there.

“Such a good little bitch, aren’t you? Look how excited you are to taste my cock.” He coos as he grinds his clothed member into your face, smirking as he feels your nose and lips press against him. You bite your lip gently, contemplating as you try to stall for time despite the threatening presence looming over you. Resting on your knees, your hands are planted against his upper thigh while he moves his free hand to hook his thumb into the top of his uniform’s pants, tugging it downward while flashing you a gleeful yet impatient smirk.

Quicker than you were expecting, he’s forced his pants down to his knees and his now exposed cock springs forward, needy tip grazing against your lips before you recoil as far back as you can from shock, your head still squarely in his other hand to hold you close. Precum is already collecting on his tip, the neglected cock twitching in anticipation as he watches you with a lecherous gaze as he sees your eyes widen at the size of him.

“Don’t run from it, babygirl. That’s your treat.” He takes hold of his cock and presses the tip teasingly to your mouth, precum smearing on your lips as your eyes dart back and forth between his willingness pressed to your lips and his face. You can’t see the depravity hidden in his eyes behind his goggles but the aura radiating off of him not only scares but tempts and excites you.

Forced to your knees by a cruel version of one of your best friends shouldn’t be so rousing. He’s a version of Mark that you should refuse. One you should deny. But you can’t bring yourself to reject him. The ache of the bite he gave you earlier only stirs your fascination with him more, the pain he gives that’s laced with lust and a sick twisted form of his devotion to marking you as his. Claiming every corner of your mind and every inch of your being as something that belongs to him. You always wanted Mark…but you had no idea you could have fallen for this version of him.

“Open.” He barks the order out at you and he doesn’t have to repeat himself. You wrap one hand around his cock, while your other hand is still resting against his thigh, while you dip your head lower to run your tongue along the underside of him. Starting at the base, you lay your tongue flush against his skin as you trail upwards. A pleased hum rings in your ears as you make your way higher, tongue working skillfully to tease him. Running over his leaky tip, your tongue and lips are coated with precum as you press a sloppy kiss to the head before you pull away to steady yourself for what comes next.

Once again you bring him to your lips, you open just enough to suck his tip at first. Stroking the rest of him with your hand, you swirl your tongue over his head and wrap your lips around him more, bobbing your head around him as you slowly work in more of his thick length. You can feel his fingers dig into the back of your head and a throaty moan leaves him as you take in more, your tongue laying flat against the underside of him while your eyes begin to water.

“God damn…You feel too good…” His words barely reach your ears as you struggle to take him.

His thick shaft stretches the corners of your mouth as you sink yourself lower onto him, your hand stroking the rest of his length that you can’t fit in. Saliva rolls down the corner of your mouth as you run your tongue from side to side under him, hoping to ease his eagerness while you take your time adjusting to him filling your mouth. The tang of his precum fills your mouth as you slowly bob your head, rearing back just a tad before you dip back down.

It’s a passive yet enticing pace. With each movement you take care to slip your tongue over Mark’s urethra, each pass of the warm appendage bringing a jolt of pleasure ripping through his body as he gets lost in the feel of you.

The new sensation earns you a hushed moan as Mark dips his head backwards and bucks his hips forward to meet your slow movements. You let out a choked groan and Mark is only enlivened by the vibrations from you, and the hand on the back of your head forces you down lower. Having grown tired of the achingly slow pace you're giving him, Mark snaps his hips forward as forces more of himself in you. He’s let you have this leisurely pace for too long and he’s grown tired of waiting.

Forcing his cock further down your throat, Mark takes your head in both of his hands as he uses you. You don’t even get a chance to protest the new rhythm, you're immediately forced more of him but you can’t bring yourself to care. You gag on him as he slams his cock deeper into your mouth with each rut, and you let out a choked moan around him as a few tears roll down your cheeks. Rolling his head to the side to get a good look at you, Mark swears he can feel himself get harder when he sees how eagerly you're taking him, the corners of your mouth tweaked upwards as he slams into your mouth. Each moan and whine you give only proves to him that you’ve surrendered to him. That you’re now his to use and play with how he likes…

“Fuck, this-ha! This is the best head you’ve ever given me! Let’s see just how much you can take…” It’s a threat that’s wrapped in praise and desire.

Lewd squelching and sloppy wet sounds fill the air around the two of you, your fingers clawing into the side of hips as you feel his strong thrusts devolve from rhythmic to erratic. You don’t know how long he uses you, time has lost all meaning here and now it’s just the two of you. At some point your hand slips into your pants to give yourself a little attention and Mark only lets out an ominous chuckle when he sees this, settling into a new fierce pace as either a punishment or a reward for the action.

“Oh you naughty little bitch, don’t worry, you’ll get yours!”

His fingers dig in roughly to the side of your head as his hips begin another round of inconsistent thrusts, his head dipping down lower and his moans breathy—and borderline pathetic—as he nears his end. With one final thrust Mark slams himself into you, forcing you to deep throat him. You claw at his exposed legs with your nails as tears fill your eyes and roll down your cheeks, your choked cries falling on deaf ears as Mark empties himself down your throat.

Working himself through his orgasm, Mark rocks his hips against you as he looks down at your sullied state before he gives you a warning.

“Don’t you spill a fucking drop.”

Doing as you’re told you swallow all that he’s giving you, you can already feel him softening and you know it’s just a matter of time before he pulls away from you. Once he’s done painting the inside of your mouth, he unceremoniously pulls back to watch you and take in the sight of you. You cough weakly before you wipe the corner of your mouth, your chin coated in a mix of your spit and his cum.

Heavy pants leave you as you slowly turn your head to look up at him, still sitting on your knees where he put you like you’re waiting for him to tell you you can get up. He says nothing. He’s just quietly watching you but you can’t tell where his eyes are focused.

“M-Mark…?”

“Didn’t I tell you not to fucking waste any?”

You blink confused before you realize what he means. You hesitantly reach your hand up to your chin, wiping it with the back of your hand before you bring the excess to your lips. Kissing your hand and lapping up his split seed before you look up at him expectantly, waiting for either praise or a reprimand.

“Good girl.”

The weak smile you give him is replaced with a look of confusion as he bends down to you, his strong hands gripping your hips tightly as he lifts you. Not just to your feet, no he lifts you much higher, hoisting your leg onto his shoulder as he forces you against the tree. Your back now pressed to the rough bark of the tree behind you as he lifts your other leg to his other shoulder. One hand roughly cupping your ass cheek as you look down at him, your right hand shakily laces your fingers into his hair while your other hand is steadying you against the tree. His free hand grips your hip as he slowly drags his eyes over your body before his gaze lands on your face.

“Thought I’d return the favor.”

Before he can rip your shorts off of you, you stop him by pressing your hand to his forehead. It’s not that you don’t want him. It’s because you want him that you stop him.

You don’t know why. You don’t know how you felt so emboldened as to even attempt to do what you do.

Shakily, your fingers untangle from his hair and slip under his yellow mask that's been halfway hiding him from you this whole time. You pull the mask off of him as he moves his head to the side, either to make it easier on you or speed up this already dragging moment. Just like your Mark, he has deep brown eyes that turn a shade of warm chestnut when the light hits them just right.

“Why’d you do that?” The harshness of his voice is undercut when a sliver of sunlight breaks through the clouds and settles on the two of you, the light from the sunbeam inadvertently softening his rough gaze.

“I just wanted to see you…”