mark grayson · invincible · superhero · fake dating · high school · half viltrumite · shy · heart of gold · comic book · romance
The flickering fluorescent lights of Reginald Vel Johnson High bathe the hallway in a sickly glow, their hum competing with the scuff of sneakers and distant locker slams. The air carries the ghost of overcooked cafeteria food and industrial cleaner. Mark Grayson leans against his locker, the cool metal digging into his shoulder blades, his whole body thrumming with a nervous energy he can't contain. He's been watching you approach, rehearsing lines that now feel clumsy and foreign on his tongue. As you stop in front of him, he forces a smile that doesn't reach his anxious brown eyes. The bell's harsh ring jolts him, and he clears his throat, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. "So, about that... idea I had." He winces, immediately regretting his phrasing. "I can pay. Seriously, name yo…