9 Chapter 9

The tension in the household lingered into the next morning. Mark kept to himself, avoiding eye contact with both his mother and father. Often avoiding contact altogether by barricading himself in his room.

Debbie moved about the house, her scowl deepening with every passing moment. She exchanged occasional glances with Nolan, each look transmitting her frustration and disappointment. Despite wanting to address the situation, she just couldn't find the right words, so instead she continued giving Nolan the silent treatment.

Nolan, on the other hand, went about his routine with an air of detachment. He regretted his actions, but he believed they were necessary; he just couldn't trust Mark enough to leave it up to him. Although now he wondered if it was worth it or not, seeing as how his family hated him now.

Deciding on taking a tactical retreat, he put on his suit and flew away from the house; this was at least the opportunity to do something from his checklist. As he soared through the sky, he wondered about his next move. Cecil put his trust in him for the moment, however minuscule and insignificant that amount might be. Mark knew what he had done to the guardians, so even if someone came to say it later, it wouldn't amount to much in his mind.

The flaxans would be a trivial matter to resolve with his power, even if they decided to ignore his proposal. The inmortal... he would leave him in the grave for now—two birds in one stone, as they said. That leaves the Guardians' funeral, something Cecil could put together at a moment's notice.

While Nolan flew to his new destination, Mark stared at the ceiling with an empty gaze. Now that he had time to think rationally, what was he really expecting to happen when he revealed he was Invincible? It only served to drag his dad into his drama. He was still angry with him, but because he didn't trust him enough to leav—He was contradicting himself.

"Agh! I don't know!" He floated around his room while covering his face with his hands. "He was a jerk, but so was I an idiot; can I really blame him for it?"

His words were cut short by a firm knock on the door. Swiveling around, he found Debbie standing in the doorway, her face full of concern and frustration.

"Honey, we need to talk," Debbie said with a steady but firm tone in her voice.

Mark sighed, floating down to the ground. "I know, Mom. I just... I don't even know where to start."

Debbie entered the room, closing the door behind her. "Start with the truth. Why did you choose that moment to tell Amber? Your father might have his faults, but your actions didn't make things any easier."

Mark ran a hand through his hair. "I thought I was doing the right thing. I wanted to be honest with Amber, and I didn't want to hide who I am from her. But I see now that it was a mess. I just... I don't know; Eve was right; you shouldn't date civilians if you want to be a hero."

Debbie sighed with evident frustration. "Relationships are complicated, and there's no one-size-fits-all solution. You can't blame yourself entirely, but you do need to take responsibility for your choices. Timing matters, and even if I don't know the details, I can make a guess."

She sat on the bed. "You took too long to show yourself to that girl, right? Last night was probably to make it up to her for standing her up, wasn't it? And instead, you wanted to end your relationship with her."

Mark blinked in confusion. "Wait, what?" He instinctively gripped her shoulders, questioning, "How did you—"

Debbie raised an eyebrow, a knowing smirk playing on her lips. "Know? Please, I'm married to Omni-Man; do you think he's never had to leave me in the middle of a date to save people?"

Mark released his grip on his mother's shoulders. "Huh, I guess you have a point. But it's not just that. It's everything—I wanted for it to work out somehow, to start over." He shakes his head once he realizes what he has just said. "I'm still just a kid, huh? Dad was right; I didn't want to admit it, but I don't think I would have had the guts to tell Amber the truth."

Debbie looked at him sympathetically, got up from the bed, and hugged him. "Take this as a learning experience; maybe it just wasn't meant to be? There is still plenty of time after all; you can still grow up and find someone you like."

A very intrusive thought appeared in Mark's mind as he heard those words. Eve came to his mind for a moment, but he quickly dismissed it. She tricked him alongside his dad, so he didn't know what to think of her.

He pulled away from the hug, his mind racing with conflicting thoughts. "Yeah, maybe you're right. I just... I don't even know what I'm doing anymore." He smiled for a moment before frowning. "I'll try to be more careful in the future. And about Dad... I don't even know where to begin."

Debbie sighed. "Your father has his own issues. But he cares about you, even if he has a strange way of showing it. You two need to find a way to communicate better."

Mark hesitated before responding, "I'll try. But it's hard when he's always so... distant."

Debbie patted his shoulder reassuringly. "Communication is a two-way street. It might take time, but try to understand each other. Now, do you want to talk about your plans? What are you going to do about Amber?"

Mark sighed, sinking back into his bed. "I don't even know. I messed things up so much. Maybe it's better if we both move on." He ruffled his hair gently. "Yeah, that's for the better; she might look at me as a scumbag, but it's better than trying to fix it, just to mess up even more."

Debbie nodded understandingly. "Sometimes, it's best to give each other space and time. You both need to figure things out individually. If it's meant to be, things will fall into place eventually."

He felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. "Thanks, Mom. I guess I'll just focus on being Invincible. At least that's something I can control." He conveniently ignored his training sessions with his dad.

At the same time, at the GDA, Nolan and Cecil were in the middle of finishing up their conversation.

Nolan placed down the cup of coffee he was drinking. "After the funeral comes arranging the new Guardians of the Globe, we need to show the world that earth hasn't been weakened."

Cecil gave a curt nod. "Agreed. I'll start reaching out to potential candidates. Ultimately, the choice falls on your shoulders, as per our agreement." Cecil looked like he had swallowed a lemon, clearly not happy with that. "Do you think you can make it to the candidates' evaluation?" He asked mockingly, hoping for him to say no and leave the decision to him.

Nolan kept his gaze steady and didn't seem affected by Cecil's demeanor. "I'll be there. I want to ensure that whoever joins is capable and committed."

Cecil, though displeased, maintained a professional tone. "Very well. We need a team that can inspire confidence, so make sure to whip the kids into shape as quickly as you can."

Nolan nodded. "That won't be a problem," he smiled, and Cecil could only send his condolences to the brats that would be chosen for the team. "If we are done here, I have to get on with my job."

Cecil leaned back in his chair, not bothering to hide his skepticism. "That's alright, I'll deal with the finer details, so go on and protect the earth."

Nolan stood up with a serious expression. "I'll do what needs to be done." He nodded to Cecil, not bothering to exchange any further pleasantries, and left the GDA headquarters.

With their conversation out of the way, Nolan had nothing else to do besides beat up some small-time villains; he was feeling compelled to visit Eve. He soared through the sky, a trail of sonic booms echoing in his wake as he made his way to her location.

At this point in time, she should still be a member of Team Teens. So she should be fighting with a villain, or at least there was a possibility. If not, he could always give Cecil a call to ask him about their base's location.

Nolan flew for a while through the city, searching for them, going as far as going near the location where Team Teens usually operates. He surveyed the area, and after a moment, he spotted the telltale signs of a confrontation, whether it was between his target and a villain was yet to be seen. A cloud of dust and the distant sounds of clashes confirmed his suspicions.

Descending gracefully, Nolan landed near the scene, observing the chaos. The members of Team Teens were engaged in battle with a group of villains, each displaying their own unique powers.There they were: Robot, Dupli Kate, and Rex splode.

He watched the skirmish unfold, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation. The villains were clearly outmatched, struggling against the combined abilities of the young heroes. Robot's strategic mind made it so that he could give precise commands when needed; Dupli Kate's powers, albeit gruesome to watch in action, were helpful to effectively give her not only extra lives but also more able bodies for the team; and Rex Splode's... explosions.

Of course, they would all be outmatched by Eve if she employed her powers with more ruthlessness. If she wanted, she could erase those villains from existence.

He floated slowly to the scene, his presence immediately drawing the attention of both heroes and villains alike. The young members of Team Teens paused in their actions, recognizing Omni-Man's arrival. His imposing figure inspired fear in the weak villains, something he found amusing.

He decided now was as good time as any to start his job as a leader. "Teen Team, impressive work." His voice carried an air of authority. "But efficiency is key. You," he pointed at Dupli Kate, "utilize your duplicates strategically; stop using them as sacrifices. And don't hold back your punches. You," he turned to Rex Splode, "focus on precision. Unnecessary explosions can be a liability. Are you trying to save the city or destroy it? Robot," he nodded at him. "Good leadership, but try not to stick too much to a manual."

Eve glanced at Omni-Man as she dismissed her barrier, seeing as the criminals stopped moving and were now shaking in fear. "What about me?"

His eyes locked onto Eve, assessing her stance. "Eve," he said, acknowledging her presence, "you have immense power, but you hold back. In a real fight, hesitation can cost lives." He floated closer to her, and his gaze intensified. "You could end these conflicts swiftly, decisively."

He swiftly moved and knocked down the villains, leaving a trail of dust in his wake. "But I know you have your own rules, so instead settle on manipulating matter even faster." He dusted his costume and said, "You could have restrained these weaklings easily if you could move the ground as if it were water."

He could see the gears turning in her mind as she considered his words. Her power was indeed something noteworthy, and he believed that with the right guidance, she could become a force to be reckoned with.

Rex Splode scoffed as he walked to them. "Whatever, oldman." He sniffed dismissively. "We already had them, so you didn't have to risk messing up your back."

Nolan raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by his attitude. "Would you rather I break yours, then?"

Despite all his bravado, everyone on the planet knew that Omni-Man could bench press a building with ease. So he raised his hands and took a step back. "Hey, easy, easy; I was just messing around, you know."

Nolan smirked. "It shows; you probably even thought about your hero name in kindergarten." He walked closer to him. "And that actitude—are you overcompensating for something else? Something as small as your brain?"

Rex Splode's composure wavered further as those words struck a nerve. He averted his gaze, trying to conceal his discomfort. "Yeah, whatever. I'm doing just fine." He wanted to punch him in the face and tell him to stick it, but there were less painful ways to land in the hospital.

Nolan chuckled darkly. It was always enjoyable to put pretensious morons on their place. "You are more smart than I gave you credit for." He turned around to face the rest of the team.

With the villains incapacitated, Robot efficiently restrained them, ensuring they posed no further threat. Kate had her gaze glued on him; there was admiration in her eyes, but there was also a little something mixed in there. Eve, on the other hand, looked like she wanted to chew Rex and spit him like trash.

He nodded at them. "You've got potential, but potential alone won't save lives. Train harder, be more efficient, and, above all, don't let personal issues cloud your judgment. The city depends on you."

He turned to leave, his cape billowing behind him. "Eve, come with me; the rest of you keep up the good work." He soared back into the sky, and Eve hesitated for a moment before following him, ignoring Rex's protests. As they flew side by side, he decided to break the silence. "No need to look so serious; I actually just need some advice."

Eve glanced at him with curiosity. "Advice? From me?" she questioned. It was one thing for Mark to need some advice here and there, but now his dad as well? She momentarily wondered if she could ask for a fee.

Nolan nodded. "Yes, I recently ran into a little problem. I wanted to help Mark do something he didn't have the guts to do, and I might have acted antagonistic through it." He sighed. "Now he probably hates me for it."

Eve arched an eyebrow. "You... acting antagonistic? That's hard to believe." Before she could stop herself, she spoke out sarcastically. She coughed and avoided Nolan's gaze when she noticed his glare. That little joke was a bit too much.

His gaze intensified for a moment, but then he let out a low chuckle. "Well, I don't blame you. Being a parent is not easy, and I'm not exactly a role model for one."

Eve smiled nervously, realizing she might have touched a nerve. "Sorry, I didn't mean to—"

But he just waved it off. "No need to apologize. Nothing you said was wrong. Anyway, back to the issue at hand. I'm not the best at expressing myself, and Mark and I... well, let's just say we have our differences. Do you think you could help with that?"

She pondered his request. It had some merit to it; she expended a lot of time talking with Mark, after all. "Well," she began, choosing her words carefully, "communication is key. Maybe try having an open and honest conversation with Mark. Share your perspective, and more importantly, listen to his. It's possible he might not hate you as much as you think, but he needs to know you're willing to understand his side of things."

She looked at him again. "And please, do not try to start the conversation by saying you were right or something."

Nolan smirked at her advice. "Noted. There is no need to rub salt in the wound; he should know it by now anyway."

She sighed, but it was at least some progress. better than him rubbing it all over Mark's face and expecting everything to work out. "And—actually, what is this about? Did you convince him to swim around the sun or something?"

Nolan chuckled at her comment. "No, nothing that extreme. Just some family drama. Mark revealed his identity to his girlfriend, and things got messy. I got involved, and it served to make things even messier."

Eve raised an eyebrow. "Mark revealed his identity? Wow, now that's unexpected." They stopped flying. "But wait, I thought he was just going to end his relationship with Amber. What happened?"

Nolan sighed, some of the anger he felt yesterday returning. "Well, Mark intended to end things with Amber, but it didn't go as smoothly as he hoped. He revealed his identity, thinking it would be the right thing to do, but it only made things worse."

Eve nodded. "I see, now I get it." She crossed her arms. "The only thing you have to apologise for was your behavior then. I actually spoke with him recently, and he told me all about his problems with Amber. The results were his fault completely, not yours."

He didn't expect her to speak with so much spite. "I... see, then I'll make sure to talk to Mark and fix things up. You can just continue training your powers until Cecil gives you the call."

Eve waved at him before they both flew in different directions. She made her way back to Teen Team Headquarters while Nolan returned home.