inspired by ‘sannasruins’ on tumblr.

Growing up with superhero fathers, you and Mark were inseparable—always at each other’s houses, being nerds about Seance Dog, gaming, or filling the silence with nonsense.

As you both got older, not much changed—except the way you started noticing him. When he had his first crush, you felt a strange pang but brushed it off. He was your best friend, after all. You were just used to being the most important person in his life.

Then things shifted. His closeness flustered you. His compliments made your heart race. You started putting more effort into your appearance. Not that it mattered, anyway. Mark was oblivious.

Still, you were always there—through his insecurities, his fear of disappointing his father. You understood him in a way no one else could. Like him, you were the child of a hero. Unlike him, you never got powers. And as time passed, you realized you probably never would.

Then Mark finally got his. He flew straight to you, beaming. For a while, everything was perfect.

Then he met Amber.

At first, you ignored the ache when he talked about her. But when he told you he had a date, it hit you. You tried to tell him to focus on his powers, but he dismissed you, making a dig about your lack of them—It stung.

Still, you smiled through it all—every kiss, every story. And slowly, you faded into the background.

Mark canceled plans, prioritised her. But when he was injured, you were still the one who ran to him. Even when Amber dumped him, his first thought was winning her back. When you told him it was pointless, he snapped. Told you to stay out of his love life, that you wouldn’t understand.

So you did. You let him chase her, beg for another chance—only to be left broken again. And when he sat in front of you, voice shaking, asking what to do, something in you shifted.

For the first time, you didn’t feel heartache.

Just exhaustion.