I'M YOUR PUPPET; invincible

chapter 3

    "Ouch," Mark cringed, looking down at Eve's retreating figure. "What's up with her?"

    Rex, appearing tense, shrugged. "No idea."

    The boy glanced down at the girl at his side, watching how she leaned her hip against the glass, green eyes watching critically. "Do you know?"

    She cringed. "Yeah." She cast Rex a look, lowering her voice. "She caught Rex and Dupli-Kate together."

    Mark matched her expression with one of his own when, suddenly, he had a thought.

    "Hey," he said, trying to grasp her attention.

    Loren offered him a small smile. "Hi."

    "Have you talked to Logan at all?"

    Her brows furrowed. "A few days ago, why?"

    He shrugged. Logan was her ex-boyfriend. He was a year older than the two of them, but had grown up going to all of the same schools. They had grown up always knowing each other, really, and it had been no surprise when he and Loren started dating her sophomore year of high school. And after almost two years of dating, they had broken up. Mark did not know why, and Loren hadn't told him anything about it.

    One thing he knew was that she hadn't been sad. Not really.

    "Just curious. You know, given everything that's happened."

    She nods absentmindedly, peering down into the room below them. Her eyes trail every movement of the fights, peering between the opponents, zeroing in on skills and faults that, perhaps, someone only like her could.

    It is not long after that Robot stands before them again, though this time he is announcing the official members of the new team.

    "It is my pleasure to introduce the new Guardians of the Globe. Black Samson. Shrinking Rae. Dupli-Kate. Monster Girl—"

    Robot is swiftly cut off, however, by the loud laugh of Rex. Tipping his head back, hands braced on his chest, it tears from him in boisterous waves. Though, he is the only one to find it amusing.

    He braces his hands on his knees, smiling widely at her. "Aw, look at her, she's adorable! But isn't there, like, an age requirement for this ride? Am I wrong? 'Cause this seems weird, right?"

    When no one responds, only staring at him with furrowed brows and pursed lips, Robot interferes. "Rex," he says, but stops short.

    Monster Girl peers up at the boy with a grin. "I dunno, you're here. Isn't there a dick size requirement?"

    "I'm sorry?"

    Loren can't help the laughter that bubbles up from her chest, clamping her hand over her mouth. She can see the shake of Mark's shoulders, then, as he, too, struggles to hold back his laughter.

    "For what," the girl continues, "your tiny dick? I mean, the way you've been strutting around here, you must be compensating for something."

    Rex reaches for a chip at his waist, his arm sparking. "Someone ought to teach you some mother-fucking—what the fuck?"

    Loren had known, for years now, that the name Monster Girl was well suited. From one moment to another, she turned from being a little girl to a large, muscular green creature, practically towering over Rex.

    "Still think I'm adorable?"

    Loren leans against what remains of the glass divider, watching as Rex was thrown into the wall. Spitting out teeth, he throws them, now lit by whatever energy it was that coursed through his veins.