— Darius —

Well, today has been a very eventful day. First I'm surprised with the appearance of Samantha Wilkins, the girl destined to become Atom Eve, in my school. Not only in my school, but my class.

I couldn't believe it when she first walked in, but when Ms. Lockwin said her name, I knew I wasn't dreaming or anything like that.

When the class ended, everyone surrounded her. I didn't know what Eve was going through since we were twelve years old. She could have just unlocked her powers recently or could have experienced her 'origin story.' Either way, approaching her wouldn't be good right now.

So, I went to take a leak, thinking nothing of it, but imagine my surprise (or lack thereof) when I returned to see the jackass Randy bullying Mark…again. I had dealt with the guy before, and I did it again; this time, I handled it a little more violently than I usually did to send a message.

Randy is big, but he's reckless and more than a little dumb. If Mark applied himself to some level of training, I'm sure he could handle the guy easily, but until he does, it's my job as his friend to defend him.

I thought that would be the end of it, but I was wrong.

"H-Hey!"

A girl's voice called from behind us. Mark and I turned around slowly, only to see Atom Eve standing there with a hand rubbing her arm nervously.

"H-Hey…" Mark stuttered out, his face growing red at the sight of the newest addition to our class.

I raised an eyebrow at her. "You're Samantha, the new student, right?"

She blinked in surprise and nodded.

I placed my hands on my hips and tilted my head. "So…Sam, do you need something?"

She paused, realizing that she approached for something and a crimson blush consumed her face.

"I-I…I wanna know why you stood up to those guys." She whispered out.

…That's it?

"Shouldn't it be obvious?" I asked with a frown. "Mark is my friend, and Randy and his gang of idiots are jerks who bully him and others any chance they get. I'd sooner let myself get beat up by those jerks than let them mess with my friend."

Eve frowned at that and continued staring at me. "So you did it because he's your friend."

"I did it because Randy is an idiot." I shook my head. "The fact that he did it to Mark only motivated me to give him a harder lesson."

A small smile crossed Eve's lips as she gave me an understanding nod. "I see, my bad for misunderstanding."

"N-No worries." Mark stuttered out as he let out nervous laughter.

…She was apologizing to me, but whatever.

"We should head to class, Mr. Jefferson is very strict about attendance." I informed the two.

"Oh…right, well it was nice talking to both of you. It's good to know there are good people around." Eve said with a nervous smile as she rubbed her arm again. Just as she was about to turn around and leave, I placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Do you know where his classroom is?" I raised an eyebrow. Eve paused and her eyes widened. She looked down to the ground before shaking her head shyly. I chuckled at that and pat her shoulder twice. "We're all going to the same place, just walk with us."

Eve looked at me in surprise for a few seconds before nodding hesitantly. The three of us started heading to the next class together, and while we walked, we conversed about various normal things. We talked about the school and what she could expect from the teachers here, and asked her about her special school when she brought it up.

To my surprise, Eve is extremely shy when it comes to her intelligence. So much so that she told us it was a pure fluke that she managed to get into the school, but I knew damn well that she likely aced the entrance exam.

The school day was a lot more interesting with Eve around. She followed us around throughout the day and even managed to make friends with some of the nicer, more mundane girls around.

At the end of the school day, Mark, our mutual childhood friend, William, and I walked Eve to her bus and said our goodbyes, promising to speak again tomorrow at school. Then, we hopped on our own buses and made our way home.

— Later (Nightime) —

I read through my newly acquired comics with a bored face. My parents, or more specifically, my mother had finally lifted the bullshit restrictions from me and now I can read, watch, or do whatever I want with the promise that I must still go to church, which isn't something I mind anyway.

*Knock*

"Come in." I said, not even removing my gaze from my door of my room opened and in walked the hulking frame of my father. I blinked at the sight of him. "You aren't going on patrol today?" Usually he would be out of the house by now and already be a few hours into his daily job of saving the world.

His and Uncle Nolan's world might I add.

"I am not." He shook his head and walked over to me, stopping just in front of my bed. "Nolan is here."

I frowned at his words but understood and got off the bed.

After my father told me the truth of the Viltrum Empire, he told Nolan about it, which means we're the only three people on the planet that know the truth, and as such, we confide in each other to make sure each of us aren't losing ourselves in the softness of the planet.

In the show and comics, I recall Nolan often scrambling his own head about his duty vs his family, but with Lucan here as well, they are able to keep each other in check.

I followed my father down the stairs and narrowed my eyes at Nolan who was sitting on the couch along with Debbie, my mother and Mark.

"Darry!" Mark grinned, getting up an running over to me.

I clenched my fist and glared at my childhood friend. He knows I hate that fucking nickname!

"Marky…" I said with a visible vein at the side of my forehead.

"Hehe." Mark grinned smugly, wiping underneath his nose. "Wanna head upstairs and read comics?"

"Not tonight, Mark." Nolan answered for me. We both looked at the older man who had gotten considerably more serious, putting the room on pause.

"Is something wrong, honey?" Debbie asked Nolan who opened his mouth in well concealed surprise and nodded.

"Everything is fine."

"Maybe you just need some fresh air…" My father frowned and gave me a look. "Why don't you lead him out, Darius."

I nodded and walked out of the room. Nolan followed behind me until we got outside.

We stood outside in silence for several minutes before he spoke.

"Mark told me you helped him with some bullies."

I looked up at him with a small smile. "They weren't very strong."

"Of course, but neither are you…yet." He smiled back, and I felt like my pride had been hit in the gut. I'm a goddamn powerhouse…at least for human standards. Years of practicing mixed martial arts at a high level has to at the very least put me on the strength level of a trained grown man.

Which admittedly…isn't very strong.

"It's good you two are so close." He said suddenly, earning my attention. "One day, you both will have to fight side by side, and you'll need to watch one another's backs."

I looked up at the stars, thinking about his words with a frown on my face. I still had no intention of going through with the Viltrumite's conquest of Earth, but Nolan's words made me start thinking.

There are many dimensions in Invincible with many different outcomes and pathways. The day Nolan revealed the truth to Mark, would he be a good Mark, or a bad one. Fighting off my father and Nolan would already be hard enough, but fighting off Mark as well would make whatever chance of victory I had diminish to an absolute impossibility.

"You two have already started?" My father asked as he walked out of the house.

"Just talking about Mark." Nolan frowned.

"Ah, Mark. Have you still not told him the truth?"

"It's…complicated." Nolan let out an annoyed grunt.

"I know that." Lucan nodded. "But it's our job. The way you're raising Mark…it isn't like a Viltrumite. You're raising him like a human. That needs to change now."

"How I raise my son is up to me." Nolan said, glaring at Lucan.

Lucan stared at him emotionlessly for several moments before frowning. "Then, how I deal with him if he goes against our mission will be up to me."

*FWOOOSH*

Within an instant, Nolan grabbed my Father's collar and flew him high up into the sky. So high that I couldn't see them.

I looked at the sky for a few seconds before shrugging my shoulders and heading back inside. The two of them fighting was not uncommon, so I knew it wasn't going to be any serious or dangerous to either of them. They'd exchange a few blows, then come back with bloody noses.

"Are they still talking?" Debbie asked with a curious smile as she sipped on her wine. Miranda couldn't help it and let out a little laugh, likely knowing that they were handling business in the sky.

"Yeah, they're probably gonna take a while." I answered and then looked at Mark who had his bag in his hands. He sent me a little mischievous smile which I returned. "So Mark, you mentioned comics?"

— Chapter End —

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