The Girl Across the Street

A young boy looked strangely at his parents as they were lightly arguing with each other about something. He was confused as well, knowing that this was all so unexpected brought a form of curiosity to his senses given his mom was so adamant that they all went together. She was never that adamant about things, even with family and friends, but this whole ordeal made the boy realize that perhaps this entire affair was special.

Unique, in a sense.

"For God's sake Debbie, why are you making it out like this is the most important thing you've ever done in your life and why'd you have to drag me and Mark into this?" he heard his father say as he put on his jacket with a bit of begrudging sentiment.

"Hush Nolan, I'm just going to ask that you trust me on this just for once in your life… because well, it is probably very important, not just for my career but for our family." His mother said as she laid the finishing touches for her own look in the closest mirror.

"I don't see how three strangers and a kid are supposed to be important. I have an errand to do for Cecil tonight you know. He's cashing in a favor I owe him."

"Cecil can wait, Nolan. This can't." His mother then smiled as she reached for his father's neck and gave him a small peck on the lips. One that made the young boy look away in disgust and embarrassment while his father lovingly kissed her back with some intensity.

"Ugh, fine… I could never seem to deny you."

"There's my loving husband… just remember to be polite. My new friend is very particular with things, but she's a great woman. The kind that I have to shield you from."

"For what reason? You already know that you're the only one for me~"

"Dad! Mom! I'm right here!" the young boy shouted from the staircase as he continued to groan while holding one of his favorite action figures. His parents merely laughed at his expense as they finally ended their preparations as his mother straightened out his clothes.

Happily, the family trio, now dressed to impress, headed out together towards the newly furbished house just across from their own. The young boy wondered even a few days ago who the new people across them were especially after hearing his own mother being oddly interested in them. Hopefully, they were friendly.

Hopefully, this meant that if the people across the street were family, he would have a new friend! Boy or girl, it didn't matter of course. Although, he would prefer a boy so that he would be able to talk to them if they were also fans of-

"Who bought you that toy son?" his dad asked as they began crossing the street.

The young boy looked at the figure in his right hand where a distractingly familiar green hero in toy form was seen. Complete with that signature hood and helmet, it was a very accurate depiction of one of the boy's favorite heroes.

"Momma did. It's new dad, limited… e-di-syon?" the boy tried to say as his dad strangely frowned.

"I got it for a steal, Nolan. God knows how fast the Triumvirate sells with the kids." His mother said as the young boy proudly made his toy crash into his Omni Man figure playfully. "Even the Guardians of the Globe don't sell that fast off the shelves."

"Hm. Kinda annoying you bought that one for him knowing he already only needs Omni Man." His dad said as he crossed his arms, a bit annoyed.

"Daddy is still my favorite hero!" the boy happily said as he saw his father chuckle and smile, removing some of his annoyance. "Eidolon's still cool though."

His dad then lifted him up a bit while his mother smiled.

"Yeah, well nothing's as cool as your dad." Nolan Grayson proudly proclaimed as he set his son down while the boy toothily grinned.

"Settle down now, we're here." Debbie Grayson hushed as they arrived at the simple yet elaborate-looking home across the street. Its front door was already welcoming in its appearance as the young boy watched his mother smile with both delight and excitement.

She knocked on the door as Mark Grayson, the son of the two tilted his head at the doorway that just began to open, where a blonde man smiled at their presence.

"Debbie! You finally arrived!"

"It's an honor to meet you… C-Clark, right?"

"Yep, hopefully Becca wasn't too drawl when describing me. Don't want to leave a bad impression." The man said as he scratched the back of his head much to Debbie's giggle. The young boy then stared back at his dad who looked formal but sort of reserved. Not that he would understand at that age. Shrugging to himself he looked back at the doorway where his mother was happily chatting with the man until his eyes focused on one, specific thing.

"Oh my gosh, is that Taylor?" Debbie happily said as indeed right behind the man was a young girl, Mark's age with a small frown, hiding behind what Mark assumed to be her dad.

Something… strange happened to Mark.

Taylor piqued his interest, even if she looked plain. Even if she looked small and afraid. Her dark curly locks, thin-lipped expressive mouth and simple figure would seem normal at first, until everyone saw her eyes.

Mark's gaze focused on her, almost in awe as the girl hid behind her father's leg.

Even Nolan looked curious.

Mostly because as expressive and wide as they were, they contained an aura of something that drew everybody's attention to it.

"Mark…" he heard his mother say, breaking him from the trance that he was in.

"Hm?"

"Say hi…"

Mark then straightened himself as he placed both his toys in his other hand and waved at the scared-looking girl. "H-Hi… I'm Mark! What's your name?"

'Taylor' didn't speak, she just waved back.

Mark's parents were talking animatedly with Taylor's own. The polite but scary-looking lady with straight hair, Taylor's mom, Rebecca was helping the girl eat by spoon-feeding her. Rebecca was talking to Debbie about remembering Mark's own spoon-feeding days much to his embarrassment but it seemed like he was far too focused on Taylor.

To the point that he was both curious and lightly blushing for how much she stared back.

Albeit in a dry, deadpan manner.

Mark raised his hand again, waving at her as Taylor stared.

"She's mute ever since we took her in, sadly. We've been trying to get therapy or help to alleviate at least some form of communication but… none has worked so far." Rebecca said with some concern, masked behind a fearful but stoic expression underneath while feeding Taylor another spoon.

"That's so terrible! Does she have… I don't want to pry of course but-

"It's fine Debbie, it's not like she can't understand things. She's just… special." Clark said as he offered Nolan another glass of wine as their other occupant on the dining table hummed in agreement. David his name was… he and his dad seemed to like each other in some form while his mother, Clark, and Rebecca spoke separately on another topic.

Mark, however, continued to look at Taylor…

Who suddenly raised her hand, waving back.

He found himself smiling.

As dinner finished nearly an hour later the adults were speaking in the living room while Taylor and Mark were left at the backyard gardens that the house had. They were both sitting on a bench just a few inches away from each other side by side as Mark, still unsure of how to react to the girl looked forward, hoping to not look like a fool again by staring intently at her.

There was just something with her eyes… the boy mused to himself as the peaceful garden continued to evoke the sounds of crickets doing their song and dance.

He was content to have that moment continue until he felt Taylor poking his arm.

"Y-Yeah?"

She did not meet her eyes. She was, however, staring at his Eidolon Toy.

"Oh… do you want to hold it?"

Taylor did not reply back. She merely stared right back into his eyes…

…eyes that seemed to transform from being human to that of stars…

Mesmerized, Mark had difficulty moving his gaze away until he felt Taylor presses her entire palm on his chest. His trance was once again broken when Mark saw her expression change.

She looked astonished as a feeling of something spread across Mark.

A sensation that made him feel strange.

Yet as she pulled back her hand, she smiled at him.

Mark awkwardly smiled back as she offered her palm to him.

He thought at first that she wanted him to hold her hand, only for a butterfly to land on it.

Her smile was… beautiful as the equally gorgeous insect crawled and stared at Mark.

"Wow… pretty." He whispered as Taylor's grin started to spread.

A second later a haze of butterflies wildly flew from the gardens around them and encircled them in a playful beautiful dance. Mark continued to stare at Taylor even as the gorgeous event occurred he found himself mesmerized.

[CURIOSITY]

"It's beautiful…" he intoned as he saw various colors surrounding Taylor…

[AGREEMENT?]

AN: Post-GM. Not a fusion. More so Worm Characters being in Invincible-verse.

I don't know why this muse got me.