Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Just fucking do it,” Mark growled at himself, his thumb hovering over his phone screen. He had been laying on his bed, staring at his phone for nearly five minutes now. “Swipe right,” he commanded his thumb, but it refused to move. He grunted in frustration, his arm falling down to his side. The phone felt far too heavy and hot in his hand.

“Coward,” he said.

He had been fixated on the dating profile for a week now. Each day, he had rushed home after training or capturing a villain for the GDA, worried that the profile would disappear or the app would update and she be sent back to the pool of potential matches. As soon as he signed into the app, the woman’s profile would take up the screen, taunting him to swipe right on it. Mark’s thumb would hover over the profile, he even managed to rest the pad of his thumb on the screen, but he couldn’t swipe right!

Just seeing the profile made his stomach twist and his heart thump in his chest. The few photos the woman had uploaded excited him much more than he thought possible. None of them were too revealing, and the woman had been careful to keep her face out of the photos. And yet, those photos tormented him late into the night until he took out his cock and masturbated to them, imagining her next to him, her fingers trailing up and down his stomach as she told him how cute he was for not being able to control himself.

He hadn’t had this reaction to any of the other profiles, not even to the ones that promised to meet his every desire or feature scantily dressed women. There was something about the woman that drew him in so completely that he found his mind wandering back to her even with Cecil gruffly telling him that he was starting to slack off in his training.  

His phone buzzed to life and Mark jumped a foot off the bed, his powers kicking in so he hovered over the covers. He lifted the phone and stiffened when he saw what he had done. He could see Eve’s name at the top of the screen as she called him, but his focus was on the open app. His thumb had been resting on the screen and the jolt made him swipe right. The app dinged and informed him he had a match. He had matched with her. He matched with her!

Mark jabbed at Eve’s name and hastily swiped up to answer her call.

“She matched!” he shouted into the phone.

“Ow!” Eve hissed and there was a moment of silence as she cautiously brought the phone back to her ear. “Who matched what?”

“Sorry,” Mark said, although the apology was tempered somewhat from the excitement in his voice. His back touched his covers as he floated down. “She did, th-the woman I was telling you about.”

Eve understood instantly. “Oh? Oh! She did? Did you chat with her yet?”

“Uh, n-no, we just matched. What should I say? Should I wait for her to make the first move?”

“No,” Eve said seriously. “Say something about her profile but nothing sexual. She said she was into traveling, right? Ask her what countries she’s been to.”

Mark chewed the inside of his cheek. He had been toying with the idea of sending a joke about the more intimate parts of her profile. But Eve’s idea was much better. “Should I tell her the countries I’ve been to? Tell her the time Dad and Mom took me to the North Pole?”

“Nah,” Eve answered after considering it. “Not a lot of people without serious money can go to the North Pole. It might come across as you gloating about your potential wealth. Or it might make her think you or your family have superpowers,” Eve continued. “Either way, probably smarter for you not to mention it. You should tell her you traveled the world too, just keep the more extravagant trips to yourself.”

Mark shrugged, “All right. I’ll do that, thanks Eve.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “But um, why did you call? Do you need something?”

Eve chuckled on the other side of the phone. “Oh nothing, just wanted to make you jump and finally swipe right.”

“What!? How, what if you made me swipe left!?”

“Then you would have reinstalled the app and found her again or spend ten bucks to reswipe right,” Eve said casually. “Seriously, Mark. If you didn’t swipe right soon, I would have taken the phone and done it for you.”

Mark could absolutely see Eve doing that. “Yeah, yeah,” he grumbled. He softened and rubbed his neck again. “Thanks, Eve. Seriously. I, uh, I know this is probably weird for you since we dated and-”

Eve interrupted him with a laugh. “Mark, we dated for like a week a month ago and we both agreed that we’re better as friends. I’m happy for you but if you don’t want her, I can make an account and-”

“No,” Mark said instantly. “She’s mine. Get your own.”

“She isn’t yours until you seal the deal,” Eve teased. “Speaking of, she probably got a notification that she matched with you. You might want to send her a message soon.”

“Shit, you’re right! I gotta go, Eve. Bye and thank you!” He ended the call with the sound of Eve’s laughter in his ear.

D sent you a message.

Mark sat straight up in his bed. “Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit,” he breathed. He didn’t know how to feel. Excited, nervous as hell, a bit embarrassed, well actually very embarrassed.

He took a deep breath and tapped on the notification.

Good afternoon! I hope your day’s been well! I hope you don’t mind me being so forward but what made you want to be a pet?

“Don’t be sexual, my ass,” Mark muttered. He typed back, Hello! My day’s been great. Finally unfinished packing from college. Mark glanced at the last empty box in the corner. He had tossed the textbooks that had been stuffed inside earlier today. He had no use for them, but he didn’t need to let her know he was a college dropout. At least not yet. He added, How’s your day?

Mark waited for nearly a minute before he got a response.

My day has been pretty good. I got some leads for work (sales) and I got my hands on a nice bottle of rose.

He had just started to write back a comment on pairing the rose with some baked salmon when he received another message.

But you didn’t answer my earlier question. If you don’t feel comfortable talking about it, that’s fine. I don’t want to push you into something you’re not comfortable with.

It wasn’t that he wasn’t comfortable answering the question, it was that he didn’t know how to answer her. After his battles with the Invincible variants and then Conquest, Mark needed an escape. He was one of the strongest superheroes on the planet, possibly in the universe, but he didn’t feel strong. He was constantly on edge, constantly glancing over his shoulder. Even taking off his costume didn’t allow him to escape. He was still half-Viltrumite, still the enemy of the Viltrumite Empire.

But how to explain all of this to a complete stranger? Mark settled with a generic, I got a lot of pressure from family to surpass my dad. I’m supposed to take over his business and well… he left it with a horrible reputation. It’s hard. I just need to not be ME for a few hours, ya know?

Mark winced the moment he hit send. It sounded so pathetic. “Fuck,” he groaned. “She’s gonna unmatch with me now.”

She didn’t. Instead, she replied.

I know what you mean. My husband left me and my two sons to pick up the pieces. I spent decades with him, loving him, and raising our son together but it meant nothing to him. He even called me a pet. It really fucked with me for a while. I think that’s why I’m on here. I want to find someone that I can make my own pet. Pretty fucked, huh?

Mark reread the message several times. It was a bit fucked up, but his own reasoning wasn’t too far different. He wrote, I’m sorry he left.

His thumbs hesitated on the keyboard before he mustered his courage and continued to write. I don’t think its that fucked to want a pet. I’d probably want the same thing if I was in your shoes. Honestly, I think a lot of people would react the same way. Do you want to talk about it? Your ex-husband, I mean.

Oh no, I rather not, she sent back. I much rather talk about the present.

The two began to chat casually. She asked how he found this app and he admitted one of his ex’s suggested it after their breakup. He quickly explained that they realized they worked better as friends and that this wasn’t a rebound. She said that she was impressed by his maturity, some men even in their fifties can’t be friends with ex’s. He fidgeted a little at the compliment, his cheeks warming. It was a small praise, but it made his heart thump harder. He couldn’t even imagine how he’d react if he heard her in his ear. Mark glanced down at his crotch, an obvious tent straining against the fabric.

A ding brought his attention back to the phone.

Sooo… what are you hoping out of this?

Mark laughed to himself nervously. To be completely honest, he wrote, I’m just looking for some harmless fun. I don’t think I can handle another serious relationship so soon. Is that okay with you?

That’s exactly what I’m looking for too! She wrote. If I’m being honest, I want this to be a relationship where we just use each other to destress. I know that sounds a bit objectifying but I don’t want things to get too complicated.

I wouldn’t mind that, Mark admitted. He imagined being this mystery woman’s object, being used solely to get her off. His cock pulsed in his pants, his hand absentmindedly moving down to cup the bulge. He rubbed it slightly, closing his eyes to better imagine someone watching him pleasure himself. Would she be smirking at him, amused that he couldn’t control himself around her. Or maybe she’d be frowning in disapproval, her toy taking things into his own hands without permission.

His phone ding brought him back to the present. He opened his eyes and read.

Are you sure you’re okay with this? Most men aren’t into being used by a woman old enough to be their mother.

She might have tried to gently dissuade him from this, but the idea only excited him more. He sent back,  Most women aren’t into using a man young enough to be their son. The age difference actually adds to the whole thing to me. Having an older woman treat me like her personal pet really turns me on. I don’t think I’ve been this hard in a while.

He hit send before he could better think it. He cursed under his breath. Was it too much too soon? He could hear Eve’s warning of not getting too sexual in the first message but surely it was okay now, right? She was the one who brought up the pet thing, so maybe hearing how excited he was wouldn’t scare her off?

Really?

Mark couldn’t stop the relieved sigh from escaping at the one-worded response. Yeah, he texted. I’ve been so pent up lately that just us chatting is turning me on. He hesitated. He could send something else but that was a gamble. A huge gamble.

Can I see?

Mark couldn’t believe the text. His mouth hung open. She wanted to see his cock? He already opened his camera app before he stopped. Was this a bad idea? What if this was all just some scam? It wasn’t his first time running into one on this dating app, but usually they’re far more obvious. It didn’t help that he could hear his mother’s voice in his head, lecturing him about the dangers of sending explicit pictures of himself to strangers.

She had noticed the length of time passing. You don’t have to if you’re uncomfortable with sending nudes. We can forget about it if you prefer.

“What? N-no!” he said out loud, forgetting for a moment that he was texting her. He hastily sent her reassurances that he wanted to. I’m a bit nervous, he admitted. I never sent a nude before.

Would it be better if I send one first?

Again Mark’s mouth dropped open. YES!!! He sent immediately. His hand went back to his cock as he waited. He played with the tip, his thumb slowly circling the head. He was surprised to find how much precum had dribbled out. “God, I really am pathetic,” he moaned happily.

He didn’t have to wait long. As soon as he got the notification, he tapped open the message.

“Holy shit,” Mark breathed, his mouth watering at the sight. She had sent a picture of her bare breasts, one hand pinching a nipple, undoubtedly to tease him. Despite her age, she was so, so gorgeous. Her stomach was still flat, maybe a little soft but that just made Mark want to rest his head on her stomach as she pet his hair. Her breasts were still perky, her nipples begging him to take one into his mouth and suckle. Her black hair fell past her shoulders, so thick and silky, but she had taken the photo from the neck down.

You’re beautiful, he told her. I want to see more, please.

Oh my, begging already? But you need to give if you want to receive, it’s only fair.

The teasing text caused his hips to jut up into his hand, his cock twitching. “She’s going to kill me,” he murmured, tapping once more on the camera app. He made sure that the photo captured the entire length of his cock, the tip glistening with his precum. Before he snapped the photo however, something in the back of his mind tickled, a memory of William complaining heatedly of the amount of truly horrid dick pics he had suffered through before Rick.

Give me a minute, he sent her. I need to make sure its good enough for a reward.

I’m sure whatever you send me will be good enough but take as much time as you need.

Mark was still smiling when he called William. His best friend picked up at the third ring. “Hey, William,” Mark greeted. “Is Rick with you?”

“Yeah,” William answered. “Oh god, is something wrong with his body? Has there been a recall on his hand or something?”

“No, no,” Mark quickly reassured William. He heard a sigh of relief on the other end of the phone. “I just have a question for him. Its personal.” Whatever excitement he felt was starting to be replaced with anxiety. “Just-just give him the phone, please?”

He could practically see William debating whether to give the phone up or demand to know what Mark needed so much. After a few seconds of silence there was a new voice on the phone. “Mark? It’s Rick. What’s up man?”

Mark took a deep breath. “IseeyouasafriendandIrespectyourrelationshipwithWilliamsoIwantedtoaskyoufirstifIcanaskWilliamforadviceonsendingdickpics.”

Several more seconds went by and then Mark heard a confused, “What?”

Mark tried again. “You’re my friend and I respect your relationship with William so I wanted to ask you first,” he hesitated, “can I ask…. William foradviceonsendingdickpics.”

This time Rick understood his rushed speech. “You want to ask my boyfriend advice on how to send a good dick pic?” he asked slowly. Mark heard William gasp and the phone being snatched out of Rick’s hand.

“Are you sending a dick pic!?” William yelled into the phone. “Its not to a fashion designer from California, is it? Those are scammers, dude. She is a he and he is going to blackmail you. Just watch some porn or something, man.”

Mark pinched the bridge of his nose. “Okay, first of all, I know what an extortion scam is. Second, she really is a she and she’s into me. Third… I’ll make sure to keep my face out of the pic. Just tell me how to send a stupid dick pic.”

William was silent for a few moments before sighing heavily. “If you’re sure about this… I’ll let Rick take over. You two have similar body types.”

“Does that matter?”

“Yes, Mark,” William said, already exasperated. “It matters.”

There was the sound of the phone changing hands. “Its Rick again,” Rick informed Mark. “First off, how’s the lighting where you are?”

Mark glanced up at his ceiling light. “Okay, I guess.”

“So not good,” Rick concluded. “You’re not in the bathroom, are you?”

“No, I-I’m in my room. Should I go to the bathroom?”

“No!” both Rick and William exclaimed at the same time. Mark heard the phone being taken from Rick’s hand. “Okay, if you guys are just going to pass the phone back and forth can you at least put it on speaker?” They sheepishly agreed and suddenly Mark could hear soft music in the background.

“Do you still have that lamp on your desk?”  William asked. When Mark gave the affirmative, William instructed him to go there. “Angle the light so your dick looks big. Shadows are your friends. Second, you have some nice abs, you should add them into the photo.”

“It’ll show her that you have the full package,” Rick explained helpfully.

“Yes, exactly,” William agreed. “She probably gets dozens of horny dudes’ dicks on her phone weekly on that app, which by the way, still can’t believe Eve knows about. You think you know a person.”

“Really?” Rick sounded surprised. “She’s obviously a domme. I mean, she used Mark as a morning star that one time. And she’s always tying up bad guys left and right.”

“She has to!” Mark interrupted. “How else are you supposed to restrain someone who can break out of hand cuffs?”

There was silence on the other end for a long time. “So she’s not a domme?” William asked.

Mark shifted a little uneasily. “I-I didn’t say that.”

“Exactly,” Rick concluded. “But we’ll ask her for details later. First we need to help you take the perfect dick pic. So we got lighting and angling...”

“Presenting!” William gasp. “Make sure you hold the base so its stands at full attention. Don’t let it dangle like a sad sausage.”

“Oh and play with it a little,” Rick added. “Some precum will show you’re really into her.”

“I-I can do that,” Mark said. “She sent me a really nice photo so-”

“WHAT!?” William yelled.

Mark winced. What is it with people screaming into the phone?

“She sent you a photo and you’re wasting time talking to us? Send her a dick pic already!”

“Good lu-” Rick’s voice was cut off by a click.

Mark looked down at the phone, confirming that the call had been disconnected. He clicked on the picture D sent him. “Fuck,” he groaned, stroking his rapidly hardening cock as he imagined how good those breasts would feel in his hands. They were big enough to spill over his hands but not too large for his taste. And those nipples. His cock pulsed as he focused on the nipple she was pinching for him. Were they sensitive? Would she gasp if he nibbled on them?

He was so engulfed by his pleasure he nearly forgot to take a picture for her. His cock twitched, ready to cum, but he restrained himself at the last moment. Mark turned on the lamp and angled the lighting just right, slowly stroking himself to keep it stiff for her. There was so much precum that his shaft glistened a little. Would she lick it up? Fuck, her tongue lapping at my cock. He snapped a few photos, keeping his lower abs in the frame just like William suggested.

He sent the best photo to her, adding, Sorry for keeping you waiting. Might have been a little distracted ;)

Mark waited with bated breath. As the seconds ticked by, he began to worry that this whole thing was a mistake. Maybe William was right, but Eve thought it was an authentic profile when he showed her. What if-

A notification popped up on his screen. He hunched his shoulders and clicked it.

Wow! It was absolutely worth the wait. Even if this is a fake photo, you certainly chose the right one. I REALLY want to play now.

Mark was still riding the high of her praise. How about now? He asked her. You live in Chicago right?

Isn’t it too soon? She sent back.

Probably, Mark admitted. But I don’t care. I want to be a good boy for you.

Did you seriously have to add in the good boy? Now I won’t be able to do anything until we play. Fuck it, I really need it.

Mark had to swallow a woop of victory. He tucked his still hard cock into his pants, he didn’t want to risk cumming and ruining any potential plans. He hopped up from his chair and began pacing his room, waiting for her to suggest a hotel or maybe even her home? He promised himself to decline if she suggested the later. He still had enough sense not to go to a stranger’s home on the first date, if this could be called a date.

She sent a hotel’s address. It was close by to him, just a few minutes by flight. They agreed to meet up in an hour, after agreeing to both wearing masks to protect their identities. Mark had been surprised that she had been the one to suggest it first. Maybe she was a superhero? The possibility led him to grab his Invincible mask. It might be a little too on the nose, but the idea of him wearing a part of his costume while he was reduced to a mere pet excited him far too much to not jump on the opportunity. He changed into jeans and a plain white shirt before slipping out of the house and flying off, his phone in his hand in case she sent another message. He flew around aimlessly for a while, trying to calm his racing nerves before heading to the hotel.

He found the hotel with plenty of time to spare. Mark landed several blocks away in an abandoned alley and walked the rest of the way. He was shocked to find that it wasn’t a simple motel. It was a higher end hotel one with a valet giving him a strange look as he walked up the stairs.  

“May I help you, sir?” the valet asked, not unkindly.

“I uh, have a reservation here.” Mark shifted his weight from foot to foot. “With a woman.” He hoped the other man didn’t ask for any details.

The valet flashed him a smirk. “Ah, I understand now,” he said. “Go talk to the receptionist and they can help you.”

Mark’s face reddened and he quickly slipped inside. He went to the receptionist and told her he had a reservation later that night under the initial D.

The young woman raised an eyebrow but after a few taps on the keyboard, she found the reservation. She looked over the man in front of her. Understanding dawned on her face and she wore much the same smirk as the valet. “Here you are, sir. D hasn’t checked in yet but we’ll send her to your room as soon as she arrives.”

“Th-thanks,” Mark took the offered key and map, looking over them as he went straight to the elevators. He found himself scoping the layout of the building, finding areas that an ambush was more likely. He groaned when he realized what he was doing. Stop it, he scolded himself. I’m not Invincible, I’m not even Mark. Just… whatever she wants me to be.

He found their room easily enough. It was located in the middle of the hotel, right at the end of the hallway next to the staircase. There was a large window next to the door that overlooked a busy street. “Okayyyy, maybe she really is a superhero?” Mark mused. It was exactly the kind of room he would book.

Mark entered the room and kicked off his shoes and socks, leaving them near the door. He went to the other side of the room and glanced out the window, keeping his body to the side of the glass. “Stop it,” he grunted, abruptly pulling away from the window after closing the blinds then curtains. He wasn’t a superhero; he didn’t need to scope out his surroundings. He took out the Invincible mask and grimaced down at it. Maybe he shouldn’t have brought it. He had enough time to go out and buy a new mask and rush back before D arrived.

He had just gotten to his feet when there was three soft knocks. Mark jumped and hastily tugged on the Invincible mask. “D?”

Chapter Text

The door opened a crack. “I didn’t expect you to be here so early, M. Do you mind turning around so I can come inside and put on my mask?”

“O-oh! Yeah, of course.” He turned to face the window. “You can come in now.” 

He heard the door opening and closing and a bag being placed on the floor. “I, uh, picked up a few things on my way here. I hope that’s okay.”

The slight nervous tension in her voice put Mark more at ease. “Its more than okay. Have-have you ever done this before?”

“N-no,” she admitted. “Have you?”

“No, I did some things before but nothing like this. Can I turn around now?”

There was the sound of her own shoes being kicked off and then rustling, like strands of thread being tied. “You can now.”

Mark turned. “Oh,” he breathed, taking in the other woman. She was a little shorter than him and the jeans and white button up hugged her body deliciously. The black hair fell well past her shoulders and looked even silkier than in the picture. “You’re more beautiful than in the photo.”

Despite his reaction, she appeared taken aback. She stared at his mask, clearly disconcerted. “You, um, that mask?”

“Yeah,” Mark chuckled, scratching his cheek, regretting giving into his impulsive thoughts earlier. “Should I have picked something else? I hear he’s one of the most popular superheroes.”

“He is, its just- its nothing.” The woman shook her head and moved closer to the room. “I, um, just never thought of having Invincible as-as a pet.”

He heard the uncertainly in her voice. “I-I can take off the mask if-”

“N-no, no,” D stopped his hand as it rose to take off the mask. “I’m fine with it, I promise. It just surprised me is all.” She was still touching his hand, her fingertips feeling the warmth. The hand slowly moved to his cheek, questioning. “Is this okay?”

“More than okay,” Mark murmured, his eyes already closing. He rubbed his cheek against her palm, his shoulders drooping as he relaxed. He had been so tense earlier so how was it so easy to let down his guard with her? His eyes opened and he looked down at the older woman. Her caramel eyes were so expressive, he could see the longing and nervousness and sheer desire in them. He let out a breath, leaning more into her touch as his eyes slid down to her lips. She was already breathing a little heavily, her mouth slightly agape. “Can I kiss you?” he asked, noticing how soft his voice had become.

“You can,” D answered, the corner of her lips tilted up at the small plea in his tone. She let him lean down to hesitantly brush his lips against hers. She answered by stroking his cheek with her thumb, silently encouraging him. M let out a tiny groan and kissed her again, his tongue tracing her bottom lip. She opened her mouth for him and moaned as he instantly deepened the kiss. She let him have control for a minute or two, allowed him to pull her close and gently grind his pelvis against her, feeling his erection press into her.

When she thought he had enough, the hand cupping his cheek went to his hair. She grabbed a fistful and tugged back.

“Fuck!” Mark gasped.

“Too far?” D asked, letting go of his hair instantly. She hadn’t meant to pull so hard.

“No way. That was amazing,” Mark said panting. He didn’t expect the burn in his scalp or the way it excited him so much. He could see the concern in her face and smiled. “Seriously, that was so hot. Please do it again.” He grabbed her hand and put it back to his hair. He groaned as the fingers tightened a little but she wasn’t pulling. “You okay?”

D bit her bottom lip. “I’m not used to this kind of dynamic. I want to do it but first, we have to agree on a safe word.”

Mark nodded instantly. He would agree to anything if it meant D would tug his hair again. “How about Invincible?” He meant it as a joke but D grimaced. “Sorry,” he muttered. “What about something simple, like red?”

“Red? I-I can work with red.” D looked into his eyes, well his goggles. “If I do something that really hurts you or makes you uncomfortable, you will use the safe word, won’t you?”

“I promise,” he said. “If you do the same.”

D smiled. “I promise,” she echoed. She stroked Mark’s hair twice, watching with fascination as he visually slipped into his subspace. His entire body relaxed and he appeared smaller somehow, more vulnerable. Her fingers gripped his hair and she pulled down with a smirk. “On your knees,” she ordered.

Mark moaned as he sank down, his hands instinctively reaching up to grab her hips. He looked up at her like she was the most beautiful thing in the world. “Please,” he begged, not knowing what he wanted. Just more, more of her.

“That’s my good boy,” D breathed, tugging his hair to press his mouth against her crotch. She chuckled as she felt his tongue eagerly lap at the apex of her legs even through her clothing. He’s so desperate, she thought, moaning at his efforts to pleasure her. “Stop,” she said and the tongue stilled instantly. “I almost forgot, I have a present for you.”

“A present?” Mark asked, pulling back to gaze up at her. “Is it in that bag?” He glanced over to the black plastic bag left near the door.

D nodded, suddenly nervous again. “I-I thought it would help set the mood for us. Although you don’t seem to need much encouraging.”

Mark chuckled, his cheeks flushing. “Can you blame me?” He squeezed her hips once before letting go and getting up to retrieve the bag. “Should I close my eyes?”

“Best not,” D said, coming up from behind him. She waited for him to open the bag and peek inside before saying, “You don’t have to wear it if you don’t want to.”

“Oh no,” Mark said, pulling out the collar and leash from the bag. He let the bag drop as he took off the tags from both objects. “I want to wear it.” He handed the collar to D and lifted his chin.

“It might feel weird over the mask,” D giggled as she looped the leather strap around Mark’s neck. The moment the collar was around his neck, the room shifted. She looked up into his mask as her fingers brushed against the buckle, still open. “Are you sure?”

It was the easiest thing in the universe for Mark to cast aside all his pride and power. “I want this. Please.”

D fastened the collar around Mark’s neck. She stroked the leather, tracing the edges before her finger brushed against the small metal loop in the front. “Give me the leash.” She took it from Mark’s hand and she clipped it on. “Good boy.” Mark beamed at her. She cupped his cheek, her eyes softening. “On your knees again.”

Mark had to stop himself from using his superspeed as he lowered himself again. When he reached for her hips the collar tightened uncomfortably against his throat. He sputtered and looked up at her.

“Did I say you could touch?”

“No, Mommy,” he answered instinctively. His mouth snapped shut a heartbeat later. She wanted a pet, not-not that.

“Oh,” D gasped, a certain glint entering her gaze. She bit her bottom lip as she looked down at Mark, considering something. “Do you want me to be your mommy?” she asked.

Mark didn’t answer for a bit. “Maybe?” he murmured but he could see that the answer didn’t please her. “Is that weird?”

“Sweetie, you’re wearing an Invincible mask with a collar and leash around your neck,” D said. “We’re already past weird.” She reached down to stroke his hair to take any sting out of her words. She chuckled as Mark straightened his back, pressing his head into her palm. “I think I can be your Mommy if you be my pet. Deal?”

“Deal.” Mark agreed instantly.

D stroked his hair again before starting for the bed, keeping a firm grip on the leash. “Stay on your knees, sweetie,” she purred when she noticed him getting back on his feet. He gulped and crawled behind her on his hands and knees, his eyes clearly glued to her ass. “That’s my good boy.” The young man smiled at the praise, hurrying behind her.

D stopped at the foot of the bed. “Stay,” she ordered and dropped the leash. He sat back on his heels and looked up at her expectantly. D nodded approvingly before grabbing her belt. She could feel his eyes burning into her as she slowly unbuckle the belt and pushed down her pants and panties, kicking them aside.

“Whoah,” Mark whistled. His mouth watered at the sight of her sex, the trimmed black pubic hair and the wetness that made the inside of her thighs glisten. “Please,” he begged unashamedly. “Please, Mommy.”

“Ah, ah,” D said sternly, lifting a foot to push away a hand that was reaching out for her. “Not yet, sweetie.” He shuddered and she could see his pleading eyes even through his mask. She unbutton her blouse, more quickly than her pants, her excitement rushing her movements than she originally planned. She let the garment fall to the bed and reached behind her to undo the clasp of the bra before thinking better of it. She let her hands fall to her side. “Sweetie?” Mark sat up a bit straighter. “Come here for a moment.”

Mark didn’t need to be told twice. He jumped up onto his feet. “Do you want me to take it off?” D nodded encouragingly and he reached behind her. His fingers found the clasp and he struggled for several seconds. He grunted in frustration and the woman giggled at him, the persona slipping.

“Do you need some help?” D teased.

“No, I got it.” Mark fumbled with the clasp and felt it come undone. “Told you.” He slid off the straps from her shoulders and watched the bra fall to the ground. The woman was now completely naked saved for the mask. He gazed down at her. “Wow,” he cupped her breasts, his thumbs circling her nipples slowly. They were already stiff and probably aching. He should soothe them with his tongue.

D let him touch her, murmuring encouragement. “That feels good, sweetie.”  She looked down to watch him toy with her nipples. “You really want a Mommy, don’t you?” she asked with a smirk.

Mark shrugged. “A Mommy, a Mistress, I don’t really know anymore. Just… someone to tell me what to do. Someone who’ll take care of me.”

D smiled at his answer. “I think I can do that for you.” She brushed her lips against his, a silent promise. “But first,” she murmured, slipping back into her persona, “you have to take care of me.” She found his leash and tugged down. He groaned as he was pulled down to his knees once more. D sat on the edge of the bed and spread her legs. “Now be a good boy and make Mommy feel good.”

“Yes,” Mark moaned, gliding his hands up her legs, spreading them further apart for him. He could feel her muscles jump as his fingers slid along her thighs, betraying her nervousness. He leaned forward and traced her sex with the tip of his tongue. Mark had meant to tease her a little but her whimper quickly changed his mind. He shuffled closer, his hands grabbing her hips to pull her closer.

She tasted so amazing, he knew he would be addicted to her. He slowly dragged his tongue up her slit, lapping up the spilled slick. A hand returned to his hair as she tugged the leash, pulling him deeper into her. Mark groaned and alternated between focusing on her clit and moving lower to lick up more of her slick. She was already so wet that soon his chin and cheeks were sticky with her arousal. “More, please,” he panted up at her before taking her clit into his mouth. He flicked the tip of his tongue against the bundle of nerves, allowing a tiny fraction of his super speed to make her jump and grind against his mouth.

“That’s it, sweetie. Oh god, yes!” D arched her back, her fingers tightening in his hair. Her thighs closed around his head but his hands forced them open again. The show of strength made her hips buck up into his mouth. “I’m getting there, honey.” She looked down at him, her fingers itching to take off his mask so she could meet his eyes. She didn’t think he would mind but they had agreed on protecting their identities. She couldn’t take that away from him, not just to satisfy some instinctive urge.

Mark could tell she was getting closer, more slick was spilling out of her, and her thighs trembled underneath his hands. He didn’t let up, suckling the clit in his mouth as he lavished it with tiny laps of his tongue. He watched her struggle to keep up the domme persona, more of her softer side shining through as she stroked his hair and praised him. He loved every moment of it.

“Sweetie, I’m-I’m about to,” D couldn’t finish her warning. Mark gave her clit one hard, languid lap of his tongue and she came undone. Her body tensed as he moved down, swallowing her cum eagerly, a thumb rubbing her clit to prolonged her climax. “O-oh, I can’t, sweetie I can’t!” She fell back onto the bed, both hands now clenching his hair. She couldn’t stop her hips from grinding intently against his mouth as he continued to play with her. “F-fuck, M!”

 Mark only let up when the hands in his hair pushed him away. He was panting heavily, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he smiled up at her. It was only then that he noticed that she was lying on the bed now, trembling. He stood at the foot of the bed, looking down at her. Her mask was slightly askew, her hair fanning out behind her. Her body glistened with her sweat. She looked even more beautiful like this. “You okay?” he asked.

“Y-yeah,” D swallowed. “That was so intense.” She managed to lift herself up on her elbows and looked at him. She hummed at the sight of the bulge at the front of his pants, a clear wet spot at the tip. She lifted a foot and pressed against the tent, chuckling as he thrust against her. “I’ve shown you mine, its your turn.”

Mark nodded, grabbing his shirt and tugging it off. There was a moment of embarrassment when the leash got caught and D giggled. But then another pair of hands were on his abs and he heard a gentle, “Let me help, sweetie.” Mark’s mind went blank as she took over, carefully threading the leash through his shirt. The leather felt cold against him but her hands were so warm as they slid up underneath his shirt. “Oh fuck,” he groaned when a finger teased a nipple, hardening instantly. He had no idea that was sensitive! Where was this woman in his life!?

“Language,” D chastised, her nail scratching the sensitive nub and seeing him shudder in pleasure. She fully removed the shirt, unable to stop the twinge of disappointment that his mask didn’t come off with it. Her attention moved down. “Now your pants,” she prompted.

His hands were already moving down to unbuckle his belt. He shoved down his pants and boxers down and kicked them away. His hand found his shaft and he couldn’t stop himself from stroking it, groaning as he noticed her eyes following his hand’s movements.

“Eager?” D asked with a smirk.

“Very,” Mark admitted unabashed. It wasn’t like she couldn’t see how excited he was now. His cock was already twitching in anticipation.

“Stop.”

He let go of his cock immediately with a whine. He didn’t even think about it. His mind was empty except needing to follow her orders. He was not Invincible, not even Mark. Just this woman’s pet. Her good boy.

His obedience must have pleased her immensely. She laid back down and spread her legs for him.

“Please,” he whined again.

“Please what?” she asked, tilting her head innocently.

Mark groaned, “Please let me put it inside.” He sounded so desperate, so pathetic. His cock pulsed, more precum dribbled out of the tip.

D hummed at the plea. She looked at him, her gaze lingering on his mask. “You said before that … you might have a mommy kink? Would-would you like to try something else?” She glanced down meaningfully at her breasts.

“Oh god, yes,” Mark said, his mouth suddenly dry. “Please, can I please touch you, Mommy?”

She reached up and grabbed the dangling leash, tugging it. He followed eagerly up onto the bed, then over her. He was careful to kneel over her but she tugged again and he allowed himself to be pulled on top of her. He was bigger than her, but he felt so small, so protected as her arms wrapped securely around him. She guided his head down to her breast, stroking his hair lovingly as he took a nipple into his mouth. She murmured as he suckled, humming as he thrust against her.

“That’s it, I have you sweetie,” D murmured down at him, smiling as he thrust again, this time his cock slipping between her legs. “A little higher,” she encouraged him and he angled his next thrust. She gasped as she felt him prod against her sex before his shaft slid along her slit. The young man moaned around the nipple in his mouth as he thrust more intently, his cock rubbing against her. “Right there,” she gasped.

“You’re wet,” Mark said in wonder. He pulled away from the nipple to look down at her. “Do you like it? Being my Mommy?” he asked.

D turned her head away from him. He couldn’t help feeling hurt by the sudden shift in her but then she looked back at him. Mark could see her struggling internally with something, there was even a moment of disgust in her eyes. “I do,” she said, almost too softly for him to hear. “Does that make me a bad person?”

“N-no!” Mark exclaimed. “This is amazing! I seriously don’t think I’ve ever been this turned on in my life!” He cupped her cheek when she tried to turn her face away from him again. “There’s nothing wrong with this. We’re consenting adults and we’re not hurting anyone, right?” D nodded in his hand. “So, what can possibly make you think you’re a bad person for this?”

D didn’t answer. Mark saw her clench her jaw as she shook her head. He was confused by her reaction again. “Do you want to stop?” he asked

She stiffened underneath him. He nodded and was about to get off her when the arms around him tightened, pulling him back down. “No,” she said. “I don’t want to stop. Stay, please.” She stroked his hair, her legs circling his waist and grinding her pussy along his shaft. “I want this. I want you inside me, baby.”

“Fuck,” Mark groaned. He reached down and guided his cock to her pussy. He slid inside her easily, she was already so wet and ready for him. “Mommy,” he moaned before ducking his head and taking a stiff nipple back into his mouth. He suckled as he thrust deep and fast, unable to control himself now that he was finally inside her. Her pussy clenched around his shaft, each time he fully sheathed himself, her walls would tighten around him and make him gasp.

“That’s my sweet baby,” D moaned, her voice already rising as she stroked his hair. She was being rocked against the sheets in time of his thrusts, the bed creaking underneath them. “Your cock’s so big, sweetie. Keep fucking Mommy with your hard cock!”

Mark could barely believe the words spilling out of her mouth. He slowed his thrusts abruptly, his eyebrows wrinkling in concentration. He was already so close but he didn’t want to let it end so soon. He leaned back as much as he could, watching her breasts bounce with each thrust. “You’re so beautiful, Mommy,” he murmured.

D’s breath hitched at the compliment, her hips bucking up to meet Mark’s thrusts. “Harder, sweetie,” she ordered, grabbing the leash and tugging it up so the collar tightened around his throat. “Fuck me harder!”

He couldn’t disobey her, not when he was her pet. The headboard bounced against the wall as he fucked her harder, his balls slapping against her ass as he thrust into her. “I’m close,” he warned her. Mark tilted his head down to see his cock plunge into her pussy.

“It’s okay, sweetie,” she whimpered. “Be a good boy and cum inside Mommy.”

Mark couldn’t disobey that order either. He laid back down on top of her, holding her tight to him as he reached his limit. He sheathed himself as deep inside her as he could, his cock pulsing as he came. “Mommy,” he moaned as his hips twitched sporadically. Her pussy was milking him for every drop of his cum and Mark was more than happy to let her.

D clung to Mark as she felt him climax inside, filling her womb with his cum. “Good boy,” she panted. “You’re my good boy.”

When Mark finished, he gently pulled his cock out. He lifted himself to look down at her pussy, smiling as some of his semen dribbled out and stain the sheets. “Wow, I came so much.”

“I can tell,” D purred. She stretched languidly on the bed, her eyes catching his still hard cock twitching at the sight. “Oh?” she smiled at him. “You really are a young man. You’re so full of energy.”

“I can’t help it,” Mark said. He was about to suggest a time out to cuddle when D lifted herself off the sheets, turning around to face him. His eyes went wide as she settled onto her stomach, a hand gently cupping the underside of his cock. She glided her fingertips along the shaft. Just that small amount of stimulation caused him to gasp. “It-its sensitive,” he told her.

“Do you want me to stop?” D moved a little closer, the tip of her tongue slipping out of her mouth.

Mark shook his head, “No. You can use me as long as you want.”

“Good boy,” D murmured before she licked the head of his cock, circling around the tip before flicking her tongue up from underneath, following the line where the glans met his shaft.

Mark trembled above her, a hand finding its way at the back of her head. “Holy shit,” he breathed. He watched her move down his shaft, her tongue lapping up the mixture of their cum as a hand lifted to massage his balls carefully. When she moved back up, she took the tip into her mouth, sucking as she wiggled her tongue underneath. “Holy shit!” he said louder, his cock pulsing to shoot another load into her mouth. His fingers clenched at the back of her head to keep her there, but he didn’t have to worry about her pulling away. D hummed happily as she swallowed his cum, her eyes capturing every moment of ecstasy on his face. “S-sorry,” Mark murmured, letting go of her hair. When his hand fell to his side, the knot on D’s mask snagged on his thumb and it slipped off her head. “Shit, sorry,” Mark chuckled when he looked down at the mask in his hand. He held it up and grinned down at D.

He froze.

Debbie was still playing with his cock, lazily lapping at the tip as her hand continued to massage his balls. She must have sensed the shift and glanced up at Mark. She noticed the mask dangling on his thumb. “Oh!” She lifted a hand and touched her face where the mask should be. “I guess I didn’t tie it on properly. I hope this doesn’t ruin the mood for you.” She met his gaze and kissed his shaft.

Mark’s hands were instantly on her shoulders and pushing her away. Debbie’s eyes widened at the rejection. “O-oh,” she said, her voice thick with hurt. “I’m sorry.” She slid off the bed and quickly gathered her clothes, constantly looking back at him and growing more and more humiliated as he refused to look at her or even move from his position. “I-I’m sorry,” she repeated after dressing herself. “We can forget this ever happened.”

Mark nodded stiffly and heard the door open and shut. His heart was in his throat. He had fucked his mother. He had fucked his own mother. He was wearing his Invincible mask while he was fucking his own mother!

 “What the fuck did I just do!?”

Chapter Text

It took several minutes after Debbie had left before Mark could find the strength to move again. His hand flashed up to the collar, the leather too tight and hot around his throat, the leash dangling off of it was a snake against his torso and stomach. At first, his fingers dug into the leather, intending to snap it off his neck and fling it across the room, but his grip loosened. Slowly, carefully, he pulled the slip of leather through the buckle and took off the collar. He stared down at the collar and leash in his hand for several moments. His mother had bought it for him, had put it on him and claimed him as her pet. Mark waited for his stomach to roil or taste bile at the back of his throat or for his body to show any sign of disgust but ... it didn’t. His thumb stroked the black leather, savoring the softness. He was her pet. She wanted him as her pet even if she didn’t know it was him . That did make Mark’s stomach twist. His mother had claimed her own son as her pet, and only he knew it.

“ Fuck! ” Mark let out a harsh growl and threw the collar and leash onto the bed, right next to the abandoned mask. He must have let go of it sometime ago. He couldn’t move his eyes away from it. The mask was just a bit of fabric to frame her face, he should have known it was her, should have seen her face underneath it! Mark followed the pattern of the lace with his eyes, seeing the butterfly design for the first time. Of course his mother would choose that, it fit her so well. Something pretty with an undercurrent of spice, hinting at her strength and dominance. She wore something exquisite while giving him a simple collar. A worldly mistress for an adoring pet. He didn’t have to look down at to know he was excited again. He was turned on by the idea of being his mother’s pet. 

“What the fuck!?” he snarled, running his hands through his hair. His fingers brushed against the edge of his mask and he wrenched it off, glaring down at the lifeless goggles. Why the fuck did he want to wear this stupid mask? And why didn’t she stop this when she saw him wearing it!? He didn’t have any answers, didn’t know if he wanted to have the answers.

Eventually, he gathered up his clothing and put them on. The fabric felt scratchy on his skin, wrong somehow. Mark found the black bag and stuffed the collar, leash, and their masks into it, staring at the plastic to make sure nothing bulged out or hinted at what was contained within. He debated whether to chuck the whole thing out or throw it in the trash, but decided on bringing it with him. He couldn’t leave any evidence of what happened behind. 

Mark left the room about an hour after Debbie. The hallways were still empty thankfully. Did somebody see Mom leave? Was she crying? Oh god, what if a GDA agent was trailing her? Mark didn’t think Cecil would waste resources on tailing his mother, but he couldn’t put the worry out of his mind. 

He jabbed at the elevator button with more force than necessary, wincing when he saw a new crack on the surface. Still, the elevator arrived and took him to the lobby without incident. When the doors opened, Mark noticed that the receptionist shot him a curious glance before hastily looking back at her computer. 

Mark grimaced. She must have seen Debbie leave the hotel. Did Mom say something to her? No, that’s stupid, why would Mom talk to the receptionist about me? Mark gave the woman an awkward nod before leaving the hotel. He could have sworn the woman had a mixture of sympathy and amusement on her face. 

The valet gave him a much more genuine sympathetic smile when Mark crossed his path. “It happens to the best of us, man,” he said, clapping his shoulder. 

Mark didn’t have a reply to that so he simply gave a half-shrug. He walked slowly back to the alleyway, the bag heavy in his grip. He was tempted again to throw all of it into a nearby dumpster but his fingers closed around the handles tightly. What if someone saw and put everything together? 

The flight back home was more tense than his flight to the hotel. Mark couldn’t stop himself from constantly looking down at the streets below him, searching for his mother’s car. He knew it was ridiculous, she would be home already. If she even went home.

The idea that she wouldn’t be home made Mark wobble in his flight pattern and he had to stop midair. What if Debbie went to a local bar to drink the night and memories away? What if she met someone who tried to take her home. Would she go with them? Mark grit his teeth at the possibility, dismissing it almost as immediately as it popped into his head. His mother wasn’t like that! But … she agreed to meet up with him in less than a day … 

“That was different!” he told himself. They just needed it out of their systems, just to forget who they were for a few hours. But you did an amazing job reminding her, a voice whispered treacherously at the back of his head. Fuck, do you think she was imagining you the whole time? You were wearing your mask, remember? She let Invincible eat her pussy and then fuck her. She’s probably still dripping with your cum-

“Shut up!” Mark snapped at himself. What the fuck was wrong with him? Why was he thinking like that? Mark forced his mind to become blank as he began to fly again, pushing himself to break the sound barrier. The sharp clap hurt his ears and he focused on the pain. It was better than thinking about her. 

He was back at his house far too soon. His eyes instantly went to the parked car in the driveway. She was here, she didn’t go off to some stranger’s home. Mark let out a sigh of relief. She wasn’t seeking any comfort with any other man or woman. 

“I shouldn’t give a shit,” Mark reminded himself harshly. Debbie was a single woman, she could be with anyone she wanted! He shouldn’t care! He didn’t care. 

Mark flew to the back of the house to his unlocked window. He cautiously glanced inside, half expecting his mother to be waiting for him. When he saw that it was empty, he entered his room, feeling more like an interloper. 

He tossed the black bag onto his desk and sat on the edge of his bed, burying his face in his hands. If he didn’t see the bag, it didn’t exist, nor did any of its contents. Yet he could still feel the goggles of his mask and the holes in his mother’s bore into him through the thin layer of plastic. 

He jumped off his bed and marched to the bag, snatching it up and chucking it into his closet. Still, he could feel the masks mocking him. He had to escape their judgmental blank gazes. Mark lifted his feet from the floor and pressed an ear against his door. When he heard nothing but the faint humming of the AC, he slowly opened the door and peeked outside. Nothing stirred as he slipped out of his room.

He hesitated in the hallway. His eyes landed on the closed door to the master bedroom. His mother’s room. The rest of the house was dark so surely she was there, right? Maybe he should check up on her? 

The urge was almost too strong to resist, the shame of what they did and his rejection of her made his throat tighten. He had hurt her so much, and she didn’t even know the worst of it. Mark wanted to go to her, to admit to everything and beg her not to hate him. 

Instead of comforting and confessing everything to his mother, Mark turned and flew to the main bathroom. He kept his gaze straight as he tugged off his clothes, not allowing his eyes to drift anywhere near the mirror. What if he saw something on his body that his mother had left? Logically he knew that she couldn’t have marked him, even if she managed a hickey, his Viltrumite powers would heal it by now. Still, he couldn’t risk it.

He fiddled with the shower knobs until the water was nearly too hot for him. He stepped inside and let the spray wash him clean. Mark tilted his head down to watch the water flow down his body to the drain. He imagined the water taking away the dried sweat and her scent.

Mark glanced at the bath wash and shampoo bottles sitting in the crook of the shower wall. If he used them, any hint of what he just did would be washed away. It would be like he never met her at the hotel. 

He quickly washed his hair and body before he left the shower, drying himself and leaving the bathroom, his clothing a bundle under one arm as the other kept the towel secured around his waist. 

He hurried back to his room, worried that his mother would decide at that moment to leave her own room to catch him. Mark put on his usual pajamas and tossed his clothes into the hamper. He stared at the dirty clothing. Why didn’t his mother recognize the outfit? It was his style, maybe not his usual outfit but still. 

Mark shook his head uncomprehendingly and went to his bed. He flopped onto the covers and cursed under his breath at the hard jab at his side. His hand fished underneath him and found the phone. He had nearly forgotten it at the hotel. 

He didn’t mean to turn it on but when he pulled it out, the screen was lit up to inform him that he had three new messages. Two were from Eve and William. Eve was more coy in her questioning while William bluntly asked if the woman liked his ‘ tasteful photograph’ and then a few hours later suggested that he could buy Mark a six-pack to celebrate or drown his woes.

Mark sent a quick message to the two of them, curtly explaining that the date didn’t go well and he wasn’t in the mood to talk about it. Eve sent her sympathies and offered to lend him her ear if he ever wanted. William sent his own sympathies and promised to scrounge up money to buy enough whiskey to drown a Viltrumite. 

He appreciated his friends’ reactions to the news before he looked at the last unread notification.

D sent you a message. 

He was so tempted to delete the app and pretend he never installed it. 

He tapped on the notification instead. 

I don’t know what happened earlier at the hotel but I am so sorry. 

The message was so short yet Mark couldn’t stop reading it over and over again. His mother blamed herself. He could even hear the pain in her voice and see the remorse on her face.

He was so stupid, so fucking stupid. Mark could see it so clearly now as his eyes found their way to the earlier messages. How could he not have realized he was talking to his own mother? 

He wasn’t sure if he should be relieved or more worried that her photo was deleted. Mark scoured over the other messages, grimacing as he found more and more hints of his mother’s identity. Her over-the-top concern, the teasing. 

Her explanation of why she was on the app hurt more than he expected when he reached the beginning of their exchange. He didn’t realize how much his father’s ‘ pet ’ comment affected his mother but now he was disgusted at how ignorant he was. Of course that would devastate his mother. She must have felt so alone, so unwanted. How the hell did he not comfort her more?

Mark had to force his fingers to loosen and drop the phone before he crushed it in his anger. He was going to beat the shit out of his father if he ever showed his face to him again. It was his fault that this ever happened. It was his fault that Debbie needed to find her own pet and Mark needed to be one for her. 

He clung to his anger as he let sleep take him. He would deal with everything tomorrow, but for now, his anger was enough to overshadow his guilt. 

Chapter Text

The skies were still an inky black when Mark flew out of his bedroom window. He stifled a yawn as he twisted, corkscrewing to break the sound barrier. Mark grit his teeth at the sharp snap but the pain invigorated him more than any overpriced expresso. 

He flew aimlessly for a while, chasing the darkness of the ending night. Maybe if he flew to the other side of the world, he would be exhausted enough to finally sleep without dreaming. 

Mark hoped so. His dreams were plagued with the memories of what he and his mother did in that hotel room. He would startle awake whenever he began to recognize what he was dreaming about and searched for the rage towards his father for causing all of this. When he found it, he focused on that, almost obsessing over the injustice of it all. Each time he woke however, that anger was harder and harder to hold onto. In its place was confusion, regret, and worst of all, a thrill that left Mark’s boxers uncomfortably tight. 

The last time he had tried to sleep, he had awakened to find his hand already rubbing his aching cock, his hips raised up to press his groin firmly against his palm. Mark snatched his hand away just in time, he was already groaning and his cock twitching with its fast approaching climax. After that, Mark laid in his bed, scrolling through his phone in a vain attempt to shut off his brain before he gave up the effort. He sent a text to his mother explaining Cecil needed him for a mission before he opened his bedroom window and escaped his room and dreams.

Just thinking about the text made Mark all too aware of the phone in his back pocket. It hadn’t vibrated yet but he wasn’t sure if that meant anything or everything . Debbie could have simply not seen the text yet or didn’t have time to respond. Or maybe she had seen it and checked to see if he had remembered to close his window before realizing that he hadn’t taken his costume with him, and then as she looked at the mask she would recognize it from last night, and then-

“Stop!” Mark yelled at himself, halting midair and hovering over the sands of the desert beneath him. “She doesn’t know,” he consoled himself. “She can’t know.” 

He whirled around, half expecting someone to be right behind him, perhaps Immortal or his father. But he was alone. No one was watching him, no one was listening to him.

“I-” Mark swallowed, “I had sex with Mom,” he admitted in a whisper. The words were strange on his tongue and stranger in his ears. When the world kept its silence and judgement, he said again, louder, “I had sex with Mom.” It didn’t sound any better, but maybe a little easier to say. He groaned in disgust and dashed forward as if to abandon his confession in the burning sands. 

He continued to fly in a random direction, the landscape underneath him slowly becoming more familiar. When he realized where he was unconsciously flying to, he couldn’t help chuckling sardonically at himself. Of course he would go there. 

Mark wasn’t surprised to find the tree house deserted. Eve had told him weeks ago that she decided to move back in with her parents. From the looks of it, she hadn’t been back at the tree house since. 

He went inside and was impressed by the state of the house. Eve had made it sound like it was on the brink of collapse by the way she muttered about all the many things she did wrong when she created it. There were dead leaves scattered throughout the landing and some of the furniture had been damaged from the constant exposure to the elements. Besides that however, the landing underneath his feet was sturdy and he didn’t see any evidence of any imminent collapse. Still … it was rather dirty.

He found a broom in the little storage area and began to sweep the fallen leaves over the edge of the tree house. The methodic scrape of the bristles on the planks helped calm his raging thoughts. When the floor was free of the litter, he began looking at the furniture that caught his eye before. Upon closer inspection, the damage he had seen was minimal, just some dust and dirt and maybe a few scrapes. Mark grabbed a bottle of water from Eve’s scant food reserves and began to clean the furniture, using his shirt as a makeshift rag. 

After he finished, he leaned against the railing and studied the tree house. It looked much better now, almost back to its usual pristine condition. Mark wondered if Eve ever let it get dirty before hastily cleaning it up whenever he came over, just like he used to do with his room. Did she clean it the last time he came over? Mark’s eyes lowered in shame. What a waste of time and effort, he had come to finally end things between them. 

Mark still felt a little sad at the memory. He and Eve had cried together as they accepted that they were better as friends rather than lovers. It was a difficult conversation but not nearly as heartbreaking as his breakup with Amber. When it came down to it, they were friends. Just friends. Mark had wanted it to be more though, and so did Eve and they tried so hard to make it work. They should have worked together. Even Rex wanted them to be together. 

Yet they never quite … fit. It was like two pieces of a puzzle that were able to combine at first glance but there was the tiniest gap that made it clear they didn’t belong together. No matter how much they tried to ignore the gap, it was there, slowly growing larger until it became a chasm between them. They both knew the chasm existed and the more they tried to ignore it, the more obvious it was. It was only when they ended things and became friends did the chasm start to close again.  

Mark gripped the side of his neck as he tilted his head back with a groan. So why was it so different during that night in the hotel? It was so natural to be with his mother, even when he thought she was a stranger he was hooking up with. It had been so easy for him to throw away all he was for her. He had been nothing more than her pet. He wanted to be her pet. Wanted it more than he remembered wanting anything. 

Why? 

He didn’t have the answer. But maybe Eve would. She was smart and she had encouraged him to pursue his interest in who turned out to be his own mother. She even tricked him into swiping right on her. She knew that side of himself better than he knew himself.

Mark left the tree house and flew in the direction of Eve’s house. He hadn’t realized how long he had been in the tree house. The sun was already beginning to set and his growling stomach reminded him that he hadn’t eaten all day. He was wondering if he could convince Eve to sneak him some food when his phone buzzed in his back pocket. He took it out and froze. 

Are you going to be home for dinner, sweetie? 

Mark’s heart leapt at the term of affection. He reminded himself that it was his mother, not her, not the mystery woman he met at the hotel. He looked up at the direction of Eve’s house then at the phone. 

Yeah, I’m just finishing up with Cecil. I’ll be home in a few. 

He tucked the phone back into his pocket and flew, corkscrewing again to break the sound barrier, barely reacting to the CRACK . 

Mark snuck back into his room and then the hallway. He could faintly hear the rhythmic chop as his mother cut something in the kitchen. He went to the bathroom and had a quick shower to wash off the grime and sweat from his flight and impromptu spring cleaning. He grimaced down at his shirt as he stood in the bathroom. Maybe using it as a rag was a bad idea. He hurried to his room for fresh clothes, debating whether or not to simply throw away the shirt before tucking it deep into his dirty laundry hamper. 

His hair was still wet when he entered the kitchen. Debbie was chopping up carrots and zucchini as a pile of other vegetables waited in a nearby bowl. “Want some help?” Mark offered. 

Debbie glanced up from her task and tore her gaze away a moment later. Mark’s heart stopped for an instant at the reaction. Does she know? 

“Sure, you get started on the onions and scallions.” Debbie pointed her knife at the bowl, her eyes fixed on the carrots on her cutting board. “I’m going to be working late for a few days so I want to meal prep for you and Oliver. You won’t be opposed to having the same dinner for a few nights, will you?” She gave him a small grin that set Mark’s heart beating again. 

She just wanted to focus on cutting the food and not her fingers, Mark told himself as he grabbed the vegetables and the extra cutting board. “Are you guys working with a new housing development?” It wouldn’t be the first time but he knew his mother disliked working those kinds of jobs. She had vented to his father multiple times about the problems of selling neighborhoods of cookie-cutter homes, how the developers tended to cut corners to get the houses up and the sheer monotony of the homes. 

A small chuckle left his mouth before he could stop it. 

“What’s so funny?” Debbie asked curiously.

“Nothing, just remembering your hour-long rant on kitchen backdrops.” 

Debbie lifted her eyes from her board. “Backsplashes,” she corrected, the corner of her lips lifting. “They’re very important to tying the kitchen together. If you get the wrong backsplash, it clashes with the appliances and cabinets.” She tilted her head back to indicate their own backsplash. “Your father wanted tungsten tiles for our kitchen after he found out it was the strongest metal on earth. It took me a week to convince him otherwise.” 

Mark was about to say that having metal as backsplash would be awesome but after looking at the cabinets, he decided his mother knew best. He cut the onions as fast as he could so his eyes wouldn’t tear up, but it proved futile. He blinked rapidly and put aside the finished onion. “You gave me the worst one,” he accused Debbie when he heard her snickering under her breath.

“You offered to help,” Debbie reminded him cheerfully. She reached out to take back the scallions but Mark gently pushed the hand away. “Be careful not to-”

“Cut myself?” Mark finished with a flash of a grin. “I’m half-Vitrumite, Mom. You don’t have to worry.” To prove his point, he set about chopping the scallions into small segments, his movements confident and steady. “See?”

“I see,” Debbie said, bumping his shoulder with hers once he set down the knife. “Show off,” she teased as she gathered the chopped vegetables and began to mix them in a large bowl. She smiled when he began to wash the cutting boards and knives without her asking him. He truly was a good boy. He would make a wonderful husband for anyone. 

Mark was setting up the last cutting board to dry when he felt her hand on his upper arm. “Thank you, sweetie,” he heard from his left side, the fingers squeezing his arm once before letting go. Mark stood there, his back to his mother as he discreetly tilted his head down. There was an obvious bulge at the front of his pants, his erection straining against the fabric. “N-no problem, Mom,” he responded. “I’m going to wash up before dinner’s ready.” He could hear her asking if he hadn’t already showered as he walked as casually as he could out of the kitchen and up the stairs. 

Instead of the guest bathroom, he went straight to his room. He barely managed to close the door behind him rather than slamming it shut. Leaning against the wood, he stared down at the bulge. “What the fuck,” he groaned, his hands already reachign down to undo his belt. He opened the clasp and pushed down his pants to better see his erection. The tip of his cock was poking out from the band of his boxers, already glistening with his precum.

His mother had called him ‘ sweetie ’ hundreds, probably thousands of times before. So why the fuck was he so turned on now!? He was so hard it ached and his breathing was harsher than a moment before. Mark glanced back at the door, his mother and brother would probably be expecting him soon. He couldn’t go back out like this. 

He told himself that he was just taking care of himself as he stumbled to his bedside. Mark found his bottle of lotion and box of tissues right where he stashed them. He took them out and sat on the edge of the bed, kicking down his pants and boxers to his ankles. 

Mark did his best to keep his mind blank as he squirted ample lotion into his palm. He gave his cock a slow stroke, simply spreading the lotion along his shaft. Just that bit of pressure made him bite his bottom lip to keep quiet. It was so sensitive already. Why was it so sensitive?

He leaned back onto his left hand, his legs spreading wider. His eyes flicked to the door as he stroked his cock. He hadn’t locked it. Someone could so easily barge into his room and catch him. The possibility heightened his pleasure, his toes curling as he focused on the tip, alternating between circling the head with his fingers and following the line of his glans with the pad of his thumb.

Would she recognize my dick?

The question popped into his head entirely without warning. It took root and grew, his imagination greedily feeding into the fantasy. His mother would knock and ask him if he was feeling well before opening the door and catching him. Her eyes would be drawn to his cock, already so hard for her. It might take a few seconds but she would remember how it felt inside her, how good her little pet made her feel.

“Fuck, ” Mark moaned before slapping a hand over his mouth. Still, the fantasy wouldn’t stop. There would be a moment of confusion, then realization, maybe disgust, but overriding it all would be desire. She’d chastise him for using such an inappropriate app and he’d shoot back she was on it first. 

Maybe as punishment she’d make him into her pet again. Mark’s hips bucked into his hand, a shock of pleasure tingling throughout his entire body. He wouldn’t stop her, wouldn’t try to. He’d be her good boy, her perfect little pet. Mark allowed his back to flop onto his covers as he imagined the feel of her hand on his chest, pushing him down as the other hurriedly undid her belt and pants. 

Mark’s mouth watered as he recalled the sight of her pussy from that night. Her black hair was neatly trimmed and sticky with her arousal. She had been so wet for him, so eager to use his tongue. “ Yes ,” he gasped, his hand slowing its pace. He was too close already, he wanted to savor the memory. 

She was the most delicious thing he ever tasted. He would have happily buried his head between her legs the entire night if she let him. The way her thighs quivered around his head and her hips jumping into his mouth made his cock pulse excitedly. Mark swallowed, she had been so wet, there was so much slick for him to lap up. Each flick and lick of his tongue gave him more of her sweetness, so much that his chin and cheeks had been wet soon after they started. 

He wanted to taste her again, to feel her pussy against his lips and her hands in his hair, clenching and pulling him deeper against her. Mark imagined rejecting her offer to cut the vegetables, insisting that he could help her in another way. He relished the look of confusion and then understanding on his mother’s face as he sank to his knees. It might be a little awkward for her at first but he could easily rest her thighs on his shoulders, holding her up so she could continue preparing the stir fry if she wanted. Mark could bite at her pants and underwear and rip them off of her, showing her how much stronger her son had become. 

“ Please, ” he whined up at her. He could feel the warmth of her body on his lips as he kissed up her thighs, felt the muscles quiver under his touch. He could taste her slick as he lapped and sucked her pussy, desperate for more. Hear her quiet moans and praises, telling him again and again how much she loved her son. Her sweet, good boy. ‘ Sweetie,’ whirled in his head and his back arched off the bed. 

Mark bit down hard on a knuckle as he came. It was so intense that his mind went blank and he no longer could tell if he was in his room or in the kitchen or back in that hotel. His semen covered his hand and soon his abdomen, the hot spunk filling the dips in his abs. Some even landed over his chest and one load went so far as to fall over the side of his face. Mark panted as the last of his cum dribbled out of the tip. He must have looked like a proper mess. Debbie would giggle at the sight before leaning down and lapping up most of the cum, her tongue lulling him to sleep before she took him into her arms lovingly. 

After a minute, he sat up and looked down at himself. He hadn’t climaxed like that in a very long time, if ever. His cock had softened but still twitched occasionally and when he ran a finger along its length, he jumped at the spike of pleasure that shot through him, simultaneously overstimulating and making him crave more .

“What the fuck ?” Mark breathed.

Chapter Text

By the time Mark had cleaned up the evidence of his sudden masturbation session and went downstairs, dinner was ready and just being placed on the dining room table. Mark sat at the table next to Oliver and promptly piled his plate high with stir fry, matching Oliver’s sizable portion. He had forgotten that he hadn’t eaten that day but the scent of Debbie’s cooking made his stomach roar. When he sat down to dig in, he noticed his mother’s phone on the table next to her own plate, the screen dimly lit from recent use. That was surprising. His mother repeatedly scolded him about using his phone at the table. 

“Work stuff,” Debbie said when she noticed where he was looking. She didn’t meet his eyes when she said it. 

Mark kept his own eyes on his plate as he ate, trying very hard not to glance at his mother. I jerked off to her, jerked off to the memory of eating her out! Mark tried to drown out the voice in his head with a savage bite of a cooked carrot, yet the voice continued, unperturbed. I fantasized about eating her out in the kitchen. 

“-sweetie?”

Mark jumped at the hard elbow prod at his side. He looked down at his brother who was giving him an exasperated look. “What?”

“Mom asked how your day was,” Oliver explained, his eyes narrowed. He crossed his arms as he added, “And what Cecil wanted your help with.” Clearly he was more annoyed at having been left behind than Mark ignoring their mother. 

Mark cleared his throat. “O-oh! It was good, I mean it was all right,” he fumbled. “Cecil wanted me to do some extra training on my navigation. You know, from the sky?” He pointed up at the ceiling to indicate what ‘sky’ he meant. 

Oliver was clearly appeased by Mark’s explanation, snickering as he scooped up another mouthful of stir fry. It was no secret that he was infuriatingly better at navigation than his older brother. Mark entirely blamed April and her tutoring for that. 

Debbie however was less convinced. She raised an eyebrow at her older son and was looking at him with calculating eyes. However after several seconds she seemingly let it go and nodded. “You can always use landmarks to know where you’re going,” she suggested. “I can get you a globe to help.”

“No, it-it’s fine, Mom. Thanks,” Mark said, his stomach roiling as his eyes drifted down to her lips before flashing to his plate. The fork was suddenly slick with sweat. What was wrong with him? He was acting like a teenager with his first crush! “I, uh, I don’t think a globe will help much with the little details. Like flying from one city to the next, ya know?”

“Of course,” Debbie murmured, her shoulders deflating an inch.

Mark grit his teeth at the stab of pain in his shin. He shot Oliver a glare that his little brother met evenly, barely suppressing the impulse to retaliate the kick with an elbow to his brother’s side. He looked at his mother and grimaced. She just wants to help. Get your head out of your ass! “Maybe we can go to a bookstore and get like an atlas or something?” he suggested. The table jostled from his leg bouncing underneath it. It took considerable effort for him to still his leg.

“I would like that,” Debbie said, the corners of her lips tilting up. “We can go out for pizza and ice cream after. Oliver, would you like to join us?”

Oliver nodded. “Sure, there’s a manga series Gwendoline showed me. The next volume is coming out next week.”

“What’s it about, honey?” Debbie asked, a note of concern in her voice. Mark had tried to watch anime with his mother a few times before, some were less advisable than others. He could still remember the mixture of horror and disgust when he tried to get her to watch Attack on Titan with him. 

“It’s about a guy who got hurt by a monster that disguised itself as a human. A doctor used the monster’s organs to save him and now he has the monster’s powers but its urges too.” 

Mark knew instantly which manga Oliver was reading and gave him a sideways glance when Debbie was distracted by a notification on her phone, her face lighting up in interest. Oliver narrowed his eyes at him and shook his head minutely. Mark raised an eyebrow and let him simmer for a few heartbeats before giving the barest of nods. 

Debbie set down her phone, ending the brothers mute conversation. Mark noticed that her eyes were downcast and she was now pushing the food around her plate rather than eating it. Whatever she had read on her phone must have robbed her of her appetite. 

Or maybe Mom was hoping it was from you. The same voice whispered at the back of his head. Mark shoved the thought away. Every time he heard the scrape of Debbie’s fork on the plate however, the phone in his pocket grew warmer. He should have responded yesterday, just to let her know he was safe and sound at home. Debbie was probably worried out of her mind about him. That would be just like her. Even if he hurt her, she would still put his feelings above her own. She even apologized to you for Christ sake! The voice taunted him, the words sharp in his head.

Mark’s own appetite vanished, guilt gnawing at him. He rejected her, ghosted her, masturbated to her, and now he was watching her wait for a response that wouldn’t come. He gulped down the rest of his water to give his hands something to do. When he set the glass down, his hand moved to cover the phone in his pocket. 

Oliver was the first to finish and went up to his room to start his homework. Mark swallowed thickly when he realized he was alone with his mother. “You finished with that?” he asked abruptly, pointing to Debbie’s plate. She hadn’t eaten much. 

Debbie jumped at her son’s voice, tearing her gaze away from the phone on the table.“Oh, um, yes. Thank you.” When Mark took her plate, she got up to follow him into the kitchen, her empty wine glass in one hand and the phone in the other.

Mark did his best to act casual as he scraped the rest of Debbie’s and his own uneaten food into their small containers for later. He and Oliver might have their dinners already set aside for the rest of the week but that didn’t mean they had to waste food. 

His eyes drifted to his mother when he heard a ‘pop.’ She had just opened a wine bottle. He didn’t know much about wine but he knew enough to know that it was one of her more expensive bottles. “Celebrating?” he asked.

“More like a pick-me-up,” Debbie muttered, filling her glass. She carefully pressed the cork into the bottle, grunting with the effort. She managed to get it halfway before sighing in frustration. “Do you mind, sweetie?” 

“Of course,” Mark took the offered wine bottle and placed his thumb against the top of the cork. With just the tiniest bit of pressure, the cork slid deep into the bottle, sealing it. “Did something happen?” he asked casually, handing back the wine bottle before turning his attention to the dirty dishes in the sink.

Debbie took it and put it back into the wine cabinet, buying herself time. “Bad date,” she mumbled, still facing away from her son. “I thought I was ready after Paul but…” she trailed off with a shrug. 

“Was it really that bad?” Mark asked before he could stop himself. He knew that it ended horribly, and it was all his fault, but hearing Debbie say it out loud was like a punch to his gut. “You’ve been looking at your phone all dinner.”

“Was I that obvious?” Debbie asked, grimacing as her cheeks tinged with red. “It didn’t start out bad. I mean, it-it started out great, amazing actually-” Her cheeks became redder as she glanced away from Mark. “I shouldn’t be talking to you about my relationship problems.” 

“It’s okay,” Mark said, giving his mother a reassuring smile. “I’m always here if you need to vent or-or anything.” 

“A parent shouldn’t burden their child.”

“You’re not burdening me,” Mark responded immediately, sensing an opening. He knew he shouldn’t pry, especially not about her date with him but it was far too tempting. “Look what if… if I tell you about my relationship problems if you tell me yours? Deal?”

Debbie tilted her head at him, raising an eyebrow. A few seconds later however, she sighed and took a deep gulp of her wine. “Fine, but you go first. What happened with you and Eve? You two were so good together.” 

The side of Mark’s mouth twitched. “It just didn’t work out. We um, we realized we were better off as friends.” He turned his head to look at her. He saw that she wasn’t impressed by his explanation. “We wanted it to work, we tried so many times but it just… didn’t feel right.” Mark cleaned another cup and when Debbie held out a hand, he handed it over. She took a dish rag and dried it before putting it away. “I thought if I dated another superhero, it would be simpler, ya know?” Mark continued, finding that it was easier as he talked. “Eve and I have always been close. It was so easy to talk to her and open up to her when I first got my powers. She really helped me get my head on straight after I experienced the … realities of being a superhero. She was always in my corner and I was in hers. We made an amazing team, so we thought being together would work just as well.”

“But?” Debbie prompted. She had meant to get her son to talk to distract him from her love life but she quickly found herself wanting to know more. Her son’s breakup with Eve was so sudden, she had assumed they had a major argument or something. When they were trying to sneak around the house, she heard them laughing and giggling constantly. 

“But,” Mark grunted in frustration, scrubbing a stubborn piece of onion that had stuck to the pan. “I kept being pulled away from her. It was like each time we were close to having an actual date, I had to leave to be Invincible.” Mark managed to get that bit of onion off and watched it swirl down the drain in triumph. He handed his mother the pan to dry. “It was so fucking frustrating.”

“Language,” Debbie said in reflex. 

Mark rolled his eyes and took a dirty plate to clean. “It was like we took one step forward and ten steps back. Then…” Mark handed his mother the plate, “then Angstrum brought those evil Invincible variants. When Eve was hurt, I nearly lost my mind. I-I even,” Mark took a deep breath, his chest tight, “I left you-”

“Stop,” Debbie said sternly, placing a slightly wet hand on his arm. “I already told you I was safe with Paul.” She squeezed his arm before letting go. 

He swallowed and nodded. “I couldn’t leave her alone there. I held her hand and I kept watch over her but it wasn’t- I was terrified of losing her. I couldn’t, can’t , imagine my life without her but it just wasn’t-” Mark shook his head and looked at his mother, hoping she could figure out what he couldn’t seem to put into words. 

“Wasn’t enough?” Debbie offered. Mark gave the smallest of nods. “I think I can understand what you mean,” she said, taking another plate to dry. “Paul and I were good together. He’s thoughtful and funny and honest . Honest about what he wants and what he thinks and-and what he was. He made me feel so special when we were together, and I think I made him happy too.” Her eyes drifted down, focusing on the task at hand. “It wasn’t enough though,” she whispered. “There was something missing, something that kept me from loving him like he deserved. I do care for him, but-but not the way it should be.” 

Debbie let out a heavy sigh, her shoulders slumping. “Ending things with him hurt, but not as much as continuing our relationship. I couldn’t live a lie like that.”

“Not like being with Dad?” Mark ventured. He saw his mother wince out of the corner of his eye. Somewhere deep inside him, he was a little relieved at seeing that wince. 

“No,” Debbie declared with a firm finality. “I couldn’t do that to Paul.” She looked down at the last plate Mark just handed to her, tracing the edge of the ceramic. “Then last night, I had a date.” 

Mark nodded, doing his best to wash the silverware slowly and methodically. He wished he had taken longer with the pans. “And?” he prompted.

“It was … easy,” Debbie admitted. “It was like I knew him for years before we even met.” Her eyes were following her fingers so she didn’t notice Mark tensing beside her. “I hadn’t felt that free in a very long time.” Her cheeks flushed as she remembered how powerful and fierce and sexy she felt with the young man on his knees before her, panting up at her, waiting eagerly for her next order. She cleared her throat as she pulled herself out of her memories. What was wrong with her? “Right at the end though, it was like a switch was flipped inside him. He was, um, interested in me and then just-” Debbie shrugged, “it was like he saw a ghost.” 

“I’m sorry that happened,” Mark said, his voice barely above a whisper. He didn’t trust himself to grab another thing to wash, but luckily his mother didn’t seem to mind.

“It was honestly a little scary,” Debbie continued, wrapping her arms around herself. “I tried to apologize, ask what I did wrong, but he was just frozen! I-I didn’t know how to help him so I left him there.” She turned her head to look at the phone she left on the island. It stayed silent and still, mocking and tormenting her. 

“I keep expecting him to call or text or anything,” Debbie continued. “Fuck I’ll take him telling me I’m horrible and old and it was the biggest mistake of his life. Just… anything so I know he’s okay.”

“You’re not horrible or old,” Mark put in, an edge entering his voice. You caused this, you dumb motherfucker. “That guy sounds like a real jackass.” Debbie opened her mouth, more than likely to chastise him for using such language, but Mark overrode her. “Mom, you are one of the most intelligent, elegant, hardworking women I know, and I’m not just saying that because you’re my mom. Even if Dad was-was using you in the beginning, he fell in love with you. ” Mark wiped his hands on his jeans before he grasped his mother’s shoulders. When she didn’t immediately look at him, he cupped her cheek like she did for him and tenderly turned her face so she had to look at him. “I know he did unforgivable things, and I know that you will never see him the same way, but I saw how he looked at you. It was like you are the most extraordinary person he ever met. He-” Mark hesitated, biting the inside of his cheek. He noticed the way Debbie’s eyes glistened and decided to not stop, “he truly loved you. I don’t think anyone could fake how he looked at you.”

Debbie smiled at her son and covered his hand with her own, her thumb stroking across his knuckles. “Thank you, sweetie.” She squeezed his hand before letting go, pulling away. “Still … I think I’m going to give dating a rest for a while.”

Mark nodded in understanding, his hand still tingling from her warmth. He watched her finish off the glass of wine and go upstairs to her bedroom. Before she left, he saw her scoop up her phone and glance down at the lit screen, telling her that she had no new notifications. He bit the inside of his cheek again and grabbed a wine glass. He looked at the various bottles and chose one at random, hoping he didn’t grab some super ultra-rare vintage. 

He downed one glass, smacking his lips at the dryness in his mouth. He seriously didn’t get how his mother enjoyed this so much. He was halfway through a second glass when he pulled out his phone. There were no new notifications. He opened the dating app and stared at his mother’s profile. She hadn’t deleted it. She said she was going to give dating a rest. Was she lying?

Mark tapped on their messages and reread them. God, how did he not know it was her ? He shook his head and downed the rest of his glass before refilling it. The wine tasted better the more he drank it. Now he could detect a hint of something… smokey? Yeah. It was a bit smokey and at the end there was something earthy. It was good. 

I don’t know what happened earlier at the hotel but I am so sorry. 

“Fuck,” Mark grunted as he read and reread the last message from her. He typed out, ‘ It’s not your fault’ then he changed it to ‘ Its my fault. I’m sorry ’ to finally ‘ Mom I was the guy in the Invincibl mask I am so sorry I’ll move out tonight and you’ll enver have to see me again. I love you please don hate mee’   

He stared at his message for a very long time, sipping at his wine glass, his thumb hovering over the send button. His thumb spasmed and he wrenched his hand away, his eyes wide. 

It was still in draft. He didn’t send it. His mother didn’t know. She didn’t have to know. She should know. He couldn’t tell her. He needed to tell her. Mark licked his chapped lips and deleted the message, typing a new one and sending it immediately.

Can we meet?

Chapter Text

It was eleven fifty. She was twenty minutes late. Mark supposed he shouldn't be surprised but each minute that ticked past their meeting time filled him more and more with dread. Was she going to stand him up? Mark wouldn’t blame her if she did. 

He soon took to pacing along the length of the room, keeping his eyes down unless they drifted to the bed. Each round that took him towards the door, his ears pricked to catch any hint of approaching footsteps. The few times he did hear something, he pressed his ear against the door, waiting with baited breath for the tap of the keycard against the lock. Yet each time the footsteps carried on passed the door and down the hallway. Mark swallowed the mixture of disappointment and relief and resumed pacing. 

The fifth time he got his hopes up, he pulled out his phone to see if there was a message from D informing him that she was going to be late or a scathing text telling him she changed her mind and that he could go fuck himself. 

I’ll see you at 11:30 tonight. Was the last text his mother sent him on the app.

Mark grunted and slipped his phone back into his pocket. He should have just sent his first apology and be done with it instead of enduring a mini panic attack for the last half hour. What did he hope from this meeting anyway? An, ‘Oh sweetie, it’s fine you shoved me away and made me feel like shit,’ or an, ‘Honey, I didn’t realize it was you! That explains why you reacted like that when you saw my face. Now pull down your pants and let Mommy take care of you.’

“What the fuck!?” Mark groaned at himself. Why the fuck did he imagine that? He was here to apologize to her, to tell her it was him, and then let her decide what they should do about all of this. If she wanted to kick him out and never see him again, he told himself he wouldn't begrudge her or try to dissuade her. 

Mark had just turned around to begin walking back to the windows when he heard three slow knocks. His hand dashed to his other pocket where he kept his mask rolled up tight. 

He was still tugging it down over his head when the door clicked open. “M?”

Mark turned to see his mother entering the room, only opening the door wide enough to slip inside. He froze when he saw her without her mask, her hair back in its usual bun and she was wearing her usual light brown shirt and black pants. She wasn’t trying to cover up her identity at all.  It was her as her true self. 

The two stared at each other, Debbie’s mouth twisting at the sight of his mask and Mark grimacing at the lack of her own. Mark had practiced a speech as he flew to the hotel, telling his mother how sorry he was, how it was him, how sorry he was, how he fucked everything up and it wasn’t her fault, and how truly and utterly so so sorry he was. 

What came out was a strained, “Hi.” 

Debbie didn’t respond. She was still looking at his mask, her eyes narrowing as her lips thinned into a sharp line. “Is this some sick joke?” she asked, her words clipped and cold. 

“Wh-what?” Mark asked, taking an instinctive step back at the venom in his mother’s voice. 

“Is this a joke?” Debbie asked again, her eyes flashing around the room as if searching for something. They landed on the bed and lingered there for several moments before she resumed looking at him, her eyes guarded. “I’ve been replaying what happened in my head over and over again. Why you reacted the way you did when you saw my face.” Mark saw her throat work as she swallowed. He could hear the hint of a tremble in her voice. “You know who I am.” 

Mark wanted so badly to shake his head, to deny her and just end the meeting and retreat. Instead he nodded. “I… I do,” he admitted.

Debbie’s eyes widened at the confirmation and she began to pace back and forth in front of the door, trapping Mark inside. “How?” she asked, keeping her gaze forward and only glancing at him each time she turned in her circuit. 

His first impulse was to tell her that he recognized her from her job but a moment later he knew that would be stupid. His mother didn’t put her face on billboards or bus stop benches. She would have surely remembered a young man buying a house from her. So he said, “I know you are Debbi- Deborah Grayson, mother of Mark Grayson, also known as Invincible.” His hand touched his own mask. 

She must have prepared herself for the confirmation but hearing it still drained the little color from her face. All the previous fire in her was snuffed out in that instant. She went to the bed and sat on the edge, letting out a low breath as her body curled inwards on itself. She hid her face in her hands, inhaling just as slowly, the hands sliding down to reveal her eyes while covering her mouth. Mark swallowed at the remorse and regret glistening in her eyes when they flicked up at him and then away. “You must think I’m a disgusting, horrible person,” she said from between her fingers. 

“N-no,” Mark reassured her. “I don’t think that at all.” It was true. Despite everything that happened, his feelings for his mother didn’t change. Actually, that was wrong. They had changed, in the worst way possible. Cautiously, he went to sit beside her. 

His mother jumped when the bed creaked underneath the new weight but she didn’t move away. She removed her hands from her mouth to wrap her arms protectively around herself. Her eyes moved to his mask and flashed away a moment later. “I swear, I don’t see you as my son. Now or-or then.” 

Mark nodded understandingly, ignoring the stab in his chest at her words. Of course she didn’t see him as her son. That would be seriously sick and fucked up.

“I just,” Debbie gave a helpless shrug. “I just wanted to get away from it all. Away from my family, what it means.” A stricken look flashed on her face and she hurriedly amended, “Oh god, that sounds horrible. I love my sons, I do, I just…” Debbie raked her hands through her hair, just like Mark did whenever he got overwhelmed and didn’t have an immediate outlet for the outburst of energy. “I hate that they’re superheros,” she admitted in a strained whisper. “I hate that my son is Invincible. He can’t ever have a normal life, I can’t have a normal life. I’m terrified that one day he’ll-” she swallowed thickly, “he’ll be taken away from me. So that night when I saw you wearing his mask, I just- I wanted to put him in his place, to make him a pet so he wouldn’t leave me.” Debbie shook her head as a disgusted laugh bubbled up from her throat. “I really am fucked up.” 

Mark stared at his mother for several moments as she hugged herself tighter. He had no idea that she felt that way about him being a superhero. He was no stranger to struggling with the guilt and fear that someone would find out about his true identity and use her or Oliver or any of his friends against him, but to hear her lament that he was a superhero ... 

Slowly, he put a hand on her shoulder. She tensed under his touch but before he could pull the hand away, she leaned against him. “You’re not fucked up,” he murmured, his hand going around her back to pull her more securely against him. “I told you, I get it. Fuck, I get it even more now. I mean- I’m … I wasn’t lying before. Growing up, I wanted to be like my dad. He-he worked with the GDA,” he hastily added. It wasn’t really a lie, he assured himself. Omni-Man had helped with the Guardians of the Globe plenty of times before … before he betrayed them. “Now that I'm in his shoes, I just …” he struggled to get the words out. He could tell her, she had opened up so much to him. Mark could feel her eyes on him, patiently waiting for him to show her his wounds too. “I can’t stand it,” he whispered. “I hate how being good means the people I care about keep getting hurt. But if I stop helping, more people get hurt. I just- I can’t stop being good because if I do nothing, I’m bad.” He grimaced at himself. His mother certainly articulated her own reasoning for allowing that night to happen much more elegantly. 

Debbie sighed. “We both needed an outlet to escape our lives.” 

Mark nodded. Of course she was able to sum everything up so succinctly. “Yeah, we really did.”

The two looked at each other for several seconds, the silence building between them. Mark had forgotten that his arm was wrapped around her shoulder or that she was leaning against him. Mom’s warm, he thought. “I’m sorry I freaked when I saw you,” he murmured. 

Debbie let out a soft chuckle. “Knowing about your connection with the GDA, I can’t really blame you for freezing when you saw my face. I just hope you didn’t tell your work friends you had sex with Invincible’s mother.”

“No, no,” Mark said quickly. “I haven’t told anyone, I promise.” It was strange to think that having sex with his mother could possibly be something to boast about. He imagined some nameless GDA soldiers laughing and cheering one of their fellows on, begging for more details about his night with Debbie. The hand hidden on the other side curled into a tight fist. 

“Did you have fun at least?” Debbie asked. “Until my mask came off?” 

The hand that had been stroking her arm faltered just for a heartbeat. His mind raced to come up with some answer that wouldn’t hurt her feelings and keep the truth hidden. His cock however, made up his mind for him. He didn’t have to look down to know it was hard, pressing against the front of his pants. She would see the bulge if she glanced at his crotch. “Yes,” he admitted, closing his eyes behind the goggles so he didn’t have to see her reaction. “That was the best sex I ever had. I’ve never been so vulnerable with anybody before.” 

“Oh god, I left you like that,” Debbie sounded horrified. 

“No, I’m fine, I promise,” Mark reassured her. “I just cleaned up and left for home. You did nothing wrong, I swear.” He squeezed her arm like she did for him so many times before. “This is all on me. You were amazing and sexy and wonderful and amazing.” 

Debbie laughed again. “You said amazing twice.”

“Well it’s true,” Mark emphasized. “Seriously, it was one of the best nights of my life.”

Silence engulfed the two as they lost themselves in their own thoughts. Debbie worrying about her one night stand knowing her identity and Mark worrying about his mother worrying about him blabbing about what they did. His thumb stroked her arm as she leaned into his side, both taking comfort in each other’s presence.

“Thank you,” Debbie murmured, “for meeting with me again.”

Mark grinned, “Thank you for coming.”

Debbie leaned back, his arm falling from her shoulder. Instantly, she missed the warmth from his hand and the way his thumb stroked her arm comfortingly. She let out a long breath, tilting her head to look up at the ceiling. “Now what?” she asked. 

Mark shrugged. “I don’t know,” he admitted rather awkwardly. “Forget everything?” he suggested, half-joking. 

Debbie turned her head to study the young man. He was looking right back at her, his hands in his lap, his fingers occasionally twisting around each other. He’s still so nervous. She focused on his hands for a little longer, suddenly realizing that he was covering a tent at the front of his pants. When her gaze flicked up, she saw the flush underneath his goggles. Cute. 

Mark nearly jumped when he felt a hand on his thigh. His breath hitched as his mother squeezed his leg, the question clear in her fingers. 

“Do you want to?” She asked, squeezing his thigh slowly. When he didn’t answer, she asked instead, “Do you want to leave?” 

He couldn’t speak, it was like his mouth was sewn shut and his throat dry as a desert. He knew what his mother was asking him, knew what she wanted. “I should,” he said, uncertain. He stayed where he was, his body unwilling to move from the hand on his thigh. 

Debbie waited for several long seconds before the hand slid up an inch and stilling. Her other hand moved to cup his cheek and she grinned when he rubbed his face into the palm. The tip of her finger traced the edge of his left goggle. Mark’s mask, she thought. Invincible. 

Mark kept his eyes shut behind his goggles, savoring the hand on his thigh and cheek. Her touch kept the nagging voice in his head quiet, the voice reminding him that he set up this whole meeting to tell his mother everything and beg for her forgiveness. 

He gasped when he felt warm, soft lips against his. Instantly, he was kissing her back, opening his mouth to accept her. He could taste mint on her tongue. Did she brush her teeth before seeing me? The thought made Mark groan. Did his mom expect this to happen again? Did she already know how weak he was? 

Somehow, the two wound up in the middle of the bed, Debbie underneath her son as he kissed her almost fervently. Mark’s hands couldn’t keep still, they stroked her sides and arms and when Debbie’s left leg moved up to graze his side, he was quick to hike it around his hips as they bucked into her. Her breasts pressed against his chest, Mark could feel her stiff nipples begging him to take them into his mouth, to suckle on them. 

What the fuck are you doing!? A voice screamed in his head, both parts disgusted and excited. You need to leave. You talked to mom, you apologized. You need to leave! You need to get off her! Stop making out with your own mother you sick-! 

Debbie must have sensed the internal struggle raging inside Mark. She brushed her lips against his, almost shyly, silencing the voice in his head. When Mark tried to deepen the kiss, Debbie turned her head to the side. “Wait,” she panted, laying a hand on his chest and pushing him slightly up off of her. The arms around her waist tightened before relaxing a moment later. “Do you want to stop?” 

Mark shook his head. He tried to lean down again to kiss her but the hand on his chest stopped him. 

“I need to hear you say it, sweetie,” Debbie murmured up to him. “I-I need to know you want this, that you won’t shut me out again.”

“I want this,” Mark breathed and he was able to settle between her legs again without her stopping him. He pressed his erection into the apex of her legs, groaning as he grind into her. “I want you. Please let me stay.” He leaned down to kiss her, brushing his lips against hers briefly. “Please.”