"Let's team up and take them out together!"
Jovian knew the Guardians of the Globe—basically a Justice League knockoff. Darkwing as the Batman counterpart, War Woman as the Wonder Woman counterpart, Green Ghost as the Green Lantern counterpart, Martian Man as the Martian Manhunter counterpart, Red Rush as the Flash counterpart, and The Immortal—who was hard to pin to just one counterpart. A Justice League, but weaker, a watered-down version of the Snyder Cut vibe—called the Guardians of the Globe in this world.
Against the so-called Guardians of the Globe, Jovian was confident he could win. Viltrumite physiology gave him strength that felt even more ridiculous than Henry Cavill's Superman in Man of Steel.
"Oh, no need. I can handle them alone."
"And if you're really planning to help your father, you should at least learn how to fly first."
Nolan smiled after hearing Jovian's suggestion. It wasn't that he was mocking his son—he genuinely didn't need help. Dealing with the Guardians of the Globe? He was more than enough by himself.
"Flying?"
"Like this?"
Jovian lightly pushed his father away—
And something incredible happened.
Jovian rose into the air with effortless ease.
"Son, you're a genius!"
"When I first got powers, it took me an hour to figure out flying. You learned it instantly?"
Nolan stared at him, eyes wide. That only made him believe even more that his son was a natural-born powerhouse—someone who could match or even surpass Grand Regent Thragg.
"Flying is like walking in the air. It's not hard."
Jovian didn't even know why he could do it—he just felt like he could, so he could. That was it. Like breathing or drinking water: the body just knows.
"I knew you were a genius!"
"Come on—let's see who's faster!"
"Son, you do know Earth is round, right?"
Nolan asked, visibly excited.
"Learned that in elementary school…"
As Jovian spoke, he turned into a streak of light and shot into the distance.
"Hey! That's cheating!"
Nolan immediately chased after him, staying tight on his tail.
The two of them became twin beams of light carving through the sky.
Ten minutes later…
BOOM!
A shockwave rolled out as Jovian returned to the exact spot they'd started from.
He smiled at the glow approaching behind him, then flew back toward the house.
Ding-dong—
Jovian opened the door and walked in.
"Hey, Mom, I need some fried chicken. I'm starving!"
Debbie blinked at him. "Sure. Where's your dad?"
"He's right behind me."
Jovian dropped into a chair, crossed his legs, and waited calmly.
Ding-dong—
The moment Jovian settled in, Nolan pushed the door open and walked inside.
"See?" Jovian pointed back at Nolan with a grin.
"Son, you totally cheated!"
"You obviously took off early!"
"We're supposed to have sportsmanship, alright? You've got American sportsmanship and Viltrumite blood in you—not some win-by-any-means nonsense!"
Nolan stepped up to Jovian, grumbling.
"Got it, Dad. I'll watch it next time."
Jovian nodded. Fair point—that one was on him.
"Good."
Nolan didn't keep pressing it. He sat down next to Jovian and looked at Debbie too.
"I want a bowl as well. After that little workout, I'm starving."
He'd said the exact same thing Jovian had.
"You two are drenched in sweat. What were you doing?"
Debbie looked back and forth between them, curious.
"Just some friendly father-and-son bonding."
Nolan thought for a second, then raised a brow.
"And I won."
Jovian was already stuffing his face, insisting through bites that he'd beaten his dad.
"You only won because you were slippery about it."
Nolan frowned, annoyed—then relaxed again.
"But honestly, Jovian is the fastest kid I've ever seen. Even when I was his age, I wasn't that fast. Jovian… you might end up the fastest in the entire universe."
Nolan patted Jovian's shoulder, full of confidence.
"Oh, come on. I don't want to be that fast. A guy shouldn't be that fast."
Jovian cut him off immediately. He wasn't joking—being "fast" wasn't exactly a good thing for a man.
Nolan burst out laughing.
"Son, do you have a girlfriend yet? If you see someone you like, go after her. Your father's—"
"Cough."
Debbie cleared her throat, cutting him off.
"Cough, cough."
"I mean," Nolan corrected instantly, "I've only ever loved your mother."
Then he leaned toward Jovian, winked, and lowered his voice.
"When it's just you and me, I'll tell you the rest…"
"Sure, Dad."
Jovian raised a brow. He wasn't that interested, but if Nolan wanted to brag, Jovian didn't mind listening.
…
"I'm going to my room."
Mark—already full—looked at Jovian chatting and laughing with Nolan. His lips parted like he wanted to say something, but in the end he only left them with his back as he headed upstairs.
"Dad, you should spend more time with my idiot brother."
Jovian watched Mark go, then spoke softly.
"Mark isn't like you," Nolan whispered back, glancing around before leaning close to Jovian's ear. "He's more like a human. So we need to give him time—let him accept things slowly."
"Alright."
"Your call."
Jovian didn't argue. He was mostly saying it offhand anyway. His idiot brother—the future Invincible—was the kind of righteous guy with morals on par with Superman.
"Oh, right—Dad, am I supposed to fight the Guardians of the Globe wearing this?"
Jovian suddenly thought of it and asked.
"Of course not."
Nolan shook his head.
"You need your own suit. Like mine."
He made it clear Jovian would need a proper combat suit—one of those tight superhero uniforms.
"Good."
Jovian nodded. He didn't want to fight Earth's strongest team wearing regular clothes—clothes he'd have to keep wrapped in his personal bio-field just so they wouldn't shred the second he moved.