I'M YOUR PUPPET; invincible

chapter 3

    He could count the several times that she had ever hesitated. Paused and waited for someone else to speak, to see what they thought.

    As they approached the prison, she slowed to a stop. Heartbreakingly light green eyes observing the entire situation, drinking it in. She turned to him, lips pursed. Almost as if she were unsure of what to do in the moment, her eyes darting to Oliver's curious expression.

    "Whoa, who are those guys?" He asked.

    Mark offered her the slightest nod as he answered his brother's question. "That's Kursk—he's got electricity powers. The other guy's Furnace. Inside that suit I think he's made of lava or something. I've fought them before."

    "Then let's go get them!"

    Oliver moved to pass the two, arms pushing behind himself. Loren reached out, grasping onto his arm, pulling him back. "Oliver, hold on."

    He turned back, brows furrowed. "Huh?"

    Mark sighed. "First, when we're out in public, you got to call me Invincible, not Mark. And Loren is Cable."

    "And you can call me Kid Omni—wait, I haven't figured out a new name yet."

    Loren placed her hand on his shoulder, offering what she could of a smile. "That's okay. You don't need a name today, because you're not fighting—"

    There wasn't even another second before Oliver let out a shout of, "Those guys need help!" He turned away, flying towards the prison before Loren and Mark could think to stop him.

    Loren did, then, what she always does. Dives head-first into a fight, not knowing if she will come out of it.

    Despite all that she said to Oliver about slowing down, about being a kid while he could, she had never done the same. Not really. Unlike Mark, she had been guided into this world long before she was ready. She did not wish the same for Oliver, even if it was on his own volition.

    She made quick work of dismantling Furnace's suit, the lava pouring from his gauntlets having no effect on her, save for the warming of her skin.

    She saw movement from over her shoulder—no doubt Mark moving towards Oliver.

    After throwing Kursk down beside Furnace, she shook her head. "Don't bother trying to get up today."

    Loren turned her head over her shoulder, only to find Mark scolding Oliver. She sighed as she heard "You almost got yourself killed!" and moved nearer to them.

    "I'm fine." Oliver shot back, fists clenched. "It barely hurt."

    "Don't ever do that again."

    "But those guys—"

   "Oliver," Loren interjected, reaching to grasp his shoulder. "He's only saying this to keep you safe—you either listen or you have to come home. Okay?"

    "Okay...I'm sorry." He looked up at Mark. "Sorry."

———

    "What do you want?"

    He did not turn. Not at first. Arms remained crossed over his chest, back to her. A furrow to his brow, heart beating with temperament in his chest.