005 [VIDEO]

[shorttempered]

[The video clicks on and the image of Mark comes on the screen. He’s visibly nervous, and you can just barely see he’s wringing his hands as he talks. It’s clear he doesn't want to say what he’s saying, but he’s just as determined to get through it.]

Um, hi. I know the network’s not super reliable right now, and that it’s not secure and all of that, but with everything that’s happened the last few weeks, I really don’t want to wait in the hopes this gets fixed to say what I need to say. And as for Never-Speak-His-Name, well… that’s sort of the point of what I want to say, so…

[Takes a deep breath, sits up straight, and stops fiddling with his hands.]

I know some of you aren’t going to understand why what I’m about to say is so difficult, but I’m sure there’s some of you that are. And for those of you that can’t—this… this is really big for me, okay? I’m breaking pretty much the cardinal rule where I come from. But I've thought about this a lot, and with everything that’s happened… I’ve realized that this rule is getting in the way of helping people, which is what the rule is trying to do in the first place.

What am I rambling about? I’m getting to my point, I promise.

[He pauses because he knows after this there’s no turning back.]

For those of you that don’t know me, my name is Mark Grayson. [Mark picks up his mask, which was sitting on his lap, and puts it over his head.] I’m also the superhero who goes by the name Invincible.

This is a big deal for me because where I come from your secret identity is everything. Your secret identity is what keeps the bad guys you fight at work from coming to your home and hurting your family. And that’s not hyperbole. I've had a super villain come to my house and hurt my mom and threaten my brother to get back at me. For something I didn't even do. My family might not be here, but I've made a lot of friends here and while a lot of them can protect themselves, some of them couldn't. Not from the likes of the people I’m used to fighting, anyway.

But now everything’s changed. It’s not just my friends in danger of getting hurt anymore. Everyone’s in danger. And that’s why I decided to come clean. So the long-winded way of getting to my point is this, and this goes out to everyone (well everyone but Never-Speak-His-Name): if you need me for anything, anything, come to me. I’m super strong, super-fast, can fly, and yes, I’m invincible. And I want to help any way I can. If you need me to be a messenger, I can be a messenger. If you need me to carry something heavy like your couch to a different room, I’ll carry it. Heck, if you need me to open a stuck jar, I’ll do it.

Everything got real with the explosions, I’ve realized that I haven’t been really helping people like I should. Stopping muggers isn’t going to cut it anymore. It’s time I took my responsibilities more seriously. My secret identity doesn’t matter anymore. The safety of Keeliai does.

So I mean it. If you need help, for anything, let me know. I’ve been told I make a really good pack mule, and I’m knowledgeable about construction. Unfortunately I don’t have superhearing, so if you want to get a hold of me you’re going to have to do it the old fashioned way.

…I’m sorry this was so long, but thanks for listening.

[Quickly turns it off before he rambles any more.]

Comments

video;

[shorttempered]

Hey I'm not yelling or anything. And honestly William would probably tell me what an awful idea it is. So would my mom. My dad and brother... I honestly have no idea what they'd think. But none of them are here, so... Thanks.

I haven't yet, have I?

Heh, it sort of goes with the job.

video;

[everylittlegirl]

This place isn't like home. You know that, obviously. I think they might get it too, you know? At least I think Eve would.

And no, but you might forget about yourself if you're running around opening jars, moving couches, and saving kittens from trees.

video;

[shorttempered]

I know. My mom worries because she's my mom. And honestly William wouldn't want anyone to know because he would think it would cut into his flying time, even though I had to put a stop to that years ago.

But that's what I do. [He doesn't get it. Being a superhero is as much of who he is as Mark as he is as Invincible. He really doesn't see them as two different personalities, so much as a job where he has to keep his real name (well, last name, the first name thing is out of the bag) a secret.]

video;

[everylittlegirl]

His flying time. [So skeptical.]

But you have to make time to open your own jars and save your own cats.

video;

[shorttempered]

He really liked to go flying. It was kind of really annoying.

I can open everyone's jar and still have time to open my own. Fast, remember?

video;

[everylittlegirl]

I still don't get how you were best friends.

You know what I mean. Like how will we hang out if you're always off saving the world?

video;

[shorttempered]

I swear he's not the biggest jerk in the world.

Keeliai's a lot smaller than the world, and I still manged to hang out with my friends just fine back home. [Lying.]

video;

[everylittlegirl]

Coulda fooled me.. [She smiles.]

Uh huh. I still think you're missing the point. You know you're not the only hero here, right? I know back home you had the Guardians of the Earth or whatever, but like you said, Keeliai's a lot smaller.

[shorttempered]

I swear.

Globe. It's Guardians of the Globe. And I know I am, but I'm just used to being the strongest. Aw man, now I sound like I'm gloating again, but I'm really not.

[everylittlegirl]

Whatever. If he ever shows up, I'll decide then.

[A beat.] You don't sound like you're gloating and like, I get it? But you're not the strongest anymore. Or the fastest or the only one who can breathe in space or underwater or whatever. Stop trying to do it all or I'll think you really do have an ego.

[shorttempered]

Trying to do it all isn't an ego thing. Okay, if you do it then you make sure all the photographers take pictures of your best side, that's an ego thing. But I'm not going to stop, like, rescuing kittens from trees if I see one just because there are ten other people here who can do the same thing. That's just shirking your responsibility.

[everylittlegirl]

Or sharing it.

[shorttempered]

I said in front of me, not that I went out of my way to find it.

[everylittlegirl]

You told everyone they can call you to move a couch.

[shorttempered]

Hayley, that would literally take me a second.

[Disappears in a flash, knocks on her door, and is back as quickly as he left.]

Don't bother getting up for that, that was me.

[everylittlegirl]

[Hayley only turns her head before Mark's back and she frowns at the screen.]

There's more to exhaustion than the whole physical limitations thing.

[shorttempered]

I haven't gotten tired in a long time.

[everylittlegirl]

[She raises an eyebrow in an extremely nefarious manner, suggesting innuendo that wasn't there before.]

Don't want to know.

[shorttempered]

Damn it, Hayley!

[everylittlegirl]

[She laughs a little.]

You're welcome.