Chapter Text
Marvin still couldn’t quite grasp how he had managed to convince everyone at the studio that arriving twenty minutes early and leaving right after his segment was perfectly normal. He was just the weatherman, after all—hardly the star of the show.
Not that he was complaining. The arrangement was ideal, giving him just enough time to handle his duties as "The Great M" without raising any eyebrows. No one suspected a mild-mannered, buttoned-up Marvin could be anything but an ordinary working adult.
And that’s exactly how he needed it to stay.
Nevertheless, some of his colleagues greeted him with barely concealed annoyance when he strolled into the studio. It wasn’t lost on Marvin that his unusual schedule rubbed a few people the wrong way, but he’d learned to let their glances slide off him like water off a raincoat.
That day was no different. He entered the recording room thirty- five minutes before the live stream, which was more than his usual. The makeup team was already waiting, dutifully dabbing foundation and powder onto his face. Marvin barely noticed the difference it made—it all looked the same to him—but rules were rules.
When the makeup was done, he realized he still had some time to spare. A trip to the cafeteria sounded like a good idea. He could grab a snack to tide him over—his post-work responsibilities weren’t about to leave much room for dinner later. Besides, he needed to stop by a supply store on his way home to pick up materials for his mask. It had been slipping lately, and the last thing he needed was for “The Great M” to have a wardrobe malfunction mid-rescue.
Marvin sat at one of the cafeteria tables, savoring a surprisingly decent sandwich, when he spotted him . Whizzer Brown strolled in, his stupidly gorgeous, perfectly crispy locks catching the overhead light just right. That ever-present, mildly condescending smirk danced on his lips like it was placed there to torment Marvin specifically.
To be fair, Marvin’s hopeless crush on Whizzer was almost laughable in its intensity. It was the kind of crush that made him feel like a teenager again—nervous, awkward, and utterly incapable of thinking straight. But really, who could blame him? Whizzer was devastatingly attractive, and he had that maddening confidence that only made him more alluring.
Whizzer grabbed a coffee, looking effortlessly put-together as always, and then his gaze fell on Marvin.
Marvin’s heart did the pathetic little skip it always did.
They talked sometimes, when circumstances allowed. Whizzer usually swung by in the early mornings, which happened to overlap with the times Marvin arrived extra early to "prepare" (read: pretend to be busy just for a chance at a casual chat). Occasionally, Marvin would linger at the studio after finishing his segment, timing his exit perfectly to bump into Whizzer.
And, okay, they’d gone out together before. Three times, to be precise. Almost four, if you counted that one time Marvin bailed at the last minute because duty as The Great M called. Not that these outings were dates or anything—they were just group hangouts with a few of their closest colleagues. Whizzer was friendly, sure, but Marvin wasn’t deluded enough to think it was anything more than that.
Still, when Whizzer started walking over to him, Marvin felt that flicker of hope he couldn’t quite extinguish, no matter how hard he tried.
It wasn’t any different this time.
“Well, hello there, our charming weatherboy!” Whizzer had greeted him moments ago, sliding into the seat with an effortless grin that Marvin simultaneously adored and resented for how flustered it made him.
Marvin had almost choked on his sandwich in response, managing only a breathless, “Oh… hello. How are you?”
Now, Whizzer sipped his coffee and leaned back, visibly frustrated. “Good. I mean, sort of good. Work’s been a lot. They want me to almost spy on this superhero guy around the city, and honestly, how am I supposed to know where that bastard is at any given moment?”
Marvin barely stopped himself from cringing. He knew exactly where “that bastard” had been—because it was him. Still, he nodded sympathetically, trying to seem unbothered. “Well, that does sound… unfair.”
“Isn’t it?” Whizzer said, exasperated. “I mean, sure, they gave me a raise, but it’s barely anything. I’d rather have shorter workdays than an extra hundred and fifty bucks a month. Like that makes up for the extra stress.”
Marvin looked at Whizzer in stunned silence for a moment, his usual quick wit failing him. He wasn’t used to Whizzer being this candid. Vulnerable, even. It made Marvin feel oddly special, as if Whizzer trusted him enough to let his guard down.
“That sounds rough,” Marvin finally said, his tone more earnest than he intended. “You don’t deserve that kind of pressure. It’s… it’s not right.”
Whizzer smiled faintly, the tension in his shoulders easing a little. “Thanks, weatherboy. Nice to know someone gets it.”
“On your service” Marvin joked.
Then, Whizzer started to brag all about The Great M’s excellence, his strength and courage and so on. Marvin did his best not to react too heavily, since it was almost certain that Whizzer had a crush on the hero.
Too bad, that not on the real him.
Marvin offered Whizzer a light smile, his eyes lingering a little too long as he scanned him. Whizzer’s nails were perfectly manicured, as if they belonged to a man who could effortlessly balance work chaos with self-care. Marvin’s gaze shifted to his wrist, where a sleek watch sat—a reminder that Marvin’s own time was running out.
“Well, it was so nice talking to you, Whizzer, but I have to go now. My stream begins shortly,” Marvin said, standing up reluctantly.
Whizzer’s expression faltered, a flicker of disappointment crossing his face. “Well, see you then,” he said, his tone quieter than usual.
Marvin felt a pang of guilt but shook it off. Work called.
Back in the studio, Marvin flipped through the script, as he always did, reading it two or three times before going live. The ritual gave him confidence, anchoring him in a job that required him to think on his feet.
He frowned as he scanned the forecast. Heavy winds. Not just a nuisance but potentially dangerous. He sighed deeply. His superhero mask would have to wait. Chances were high that he’d have urgent business to handle as The Great M once the stream ended.
The broadcast went as smoothly as ever, Marvin projecting calm authority as he delivered the day’s weather report. As he wrapped up, his tone grew serious. “And a final note—given the expected wind conditions, it’s best to avoid leaving the house unless absolutely necessary. Stay safe out there.”
He signed off with his usual professional smile, but his mind was already racing. He knew that once he was out of the studio, Marvin Cohen’s day would be far from over.
Marvin left the building shortly after, discreetly changing into his costume in the alley behind the studio. The suit’s sleek design somehow allowed him to fly, carry heavy loads, and even withstand harsh weather conditions. To this day, he had no idea how it worked. It wasn’t like he’d been given a manual.
The whole thing had started as a fluke—a silly contest printed on the back of a sweets package. “Scan the code and win an extra surprise prize!” it had promised. Marvin, a sucker for anything gimmicky, scanned the code out of curiosity. The "prize" turned out to be a high-tech costume delivered anonymously to his doorstep.
The first time he’d tried it on, the suit activated, revealing features he’d never even dreamed of. His conscience had kicked in immediately, telling him he had to use it for good. But he also knew giving it away wasn’t an option. How could he possibly explain where it came from? Nobody would believe him, and even if they did, someone might exploit its potential
And so, The Great M was born.
Now, flying high above the city, Marvin scanned the streets below. Everything seemed relatively calm—just the usual flow of cars and pedestrians rushing to get home before the winds picked up. He adjusted his course, making sure to cover the busiest parts of the city.
The wind howled ferociously, tugging at Marvin’s cape as he struggled to navigate through the storm. He clutched Whizzer tightly, doing his best to shield him from the rain pelting down like needles. They flew in silence for a moment, Whizzer holding onto Marvin with one hand and his soaked camera bag with the other.
“I’ve been waiting to see you out there!” Whizzer shouted over the roar of the wind, his voice tinged with excitement.
“Is that why you’re outside in this weather?” Marvin snapped back, straining to be heard.
“No, I was just trying to get home! It’s not like I went looking for you—”
“Never mind!” Marvin interrupted, his tone sharper than he intended. He needed to focus; the wind was making flying difficult, and the rain was a constant nuisance. Worse yet, he could feel the edges of his mask loosening.
His heart thudded in panic. Not now. Please, not now.
He focused on landing safely, choosing a clear spot between two buildings. Just as he let Whizzer down, a sudden, powerful gust of wind swept through, wrenching the mask from his face.
Shit.
Marvin froze, his breath catching in his throat as he watched the mask flutter away in the wind. Whizzer, quick to react, darted after it and caught it effortlessly.
“Got it!” Whizzer said triumphantly, turning back toward him. But the moment his eyes landed on Marvin’s now-unmasked face, his expression shifted.
Whizzer’s mouth hung open for another second before his lips curled into a beaming grin, more excited than angry. “You are… No way!”
Marvin shifted uncomfortably, managing an awkward smile. “Yeah… I am.”
Whizzer stood frozen, still holding the mask in his hand, his eyes bouncing between it and Marvin’s face. Then, with a huff of exaggerated indignation, he blurted, “And you let me go on and on about how much I adore you! So many times! You’re so—so vainglorious!”
His tone was light and teasing, more playful than upset, though Marvin could sense the underlying nervous energy. It was as though Whizzer was trying to distract himself from the fact that he’d practically worshiped Marvin without realizing it was Marvin.
Marvin scratched the back of his neck, his drenched hair sticking awkwardly to his forehead. “Uh… I’m sorry? I didn’t want to, you know, interrupt you or make it weird. And I can’t exactly share my identity. Superhero rulebook and all.”
Whizzer rolled his eyes dramatically, though his grin hadn’t faltered. “It’s fine. I am just quite shocked. I mean…” he stopped for a while "So... I’ve been crushing on you twice over?" he said, with a slight blush on his cheeks.
Marvin couldn’t believe his ears.
“Huh?”
Whizzer’s blush deepened, and he stumbled over his words. “I mean… I didn’t mean to—I was just surprised, and—uh, forget I said anything. That was stupid. Totally inappropriate. You’re my coworker, and I’m a grown man who should know better—”
Marvin didn’t let him finish.
For once, he acted on instinct, without overthinking. He stepped forward, cupped Whizzer’s face in his hands, and kissed him. It wasn’t planned, and it wasn’t perfect—rain still dripped from their hair, and the chill of the storm clung to their clothes—but in that moment, it didn’t matter.
When Marvin pulled back, reality hit him like a thunderclap. He stared at Whizzer, his heart pounding. “I… I shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry.”
Whizzer blinked, his lips still slightly parted in surprise. Then, slowly, a grin spread across his face. “Well, if that’s your idea of an apology, I might have to start upsetting you more often.”
Marvin felt his face heat up, and for a moment, he was sure he’d forgotten how to speak. “I didn’t mean—wait, no, I mean I did mean to, but—”
Whizzer laughed, the sound warm and genuine despite the rain still pouring down around them. “Marvin, stop. You’re going to short-circuit trying to explain yourself.” He tilted his head, his grin softening. “I didn’t mind. Honestly… I’ve been waiting for you to make a move.”
“You have?” Marvin’s voice came out more incredulous than he’d intended.
“Obviously.” Whizzer gestured between them, the mask still dangling from his hand. “I’m not exactly subtle. I’ve been flirting with you for weeks. Thought you were just immune to my charm or something.”
Marvin blinked. “I thought you were just… like that with everyone.”
“Not everyone, Marv.” Whizzer’s voice was quieter now, more serious. “Just you.”
Marvin didn’t know what to say to that. He felt like the storm outside had settled into his chest—chaotic but electric, alive with possibility.
Whizzer stepped closer, his expression softer now, almost vulnerable. “So… what happens next? Do you fly off into the night, superhero-style, or do we figure out where this—” he gestured between them again, “—goes?”
Marvin hesitated, then took a deep breath. “I… I want to figure it out. With you. If you’re okay with that.”
“Okay with it? Marvin, I’ve been hoping for this since our first conversation in the cafeteria.”
Marvin couldn’t help but smile at that, a small, relieved laugh escaping him. “I guess I’m not as great at reading people as I thought.”
“That’s fine. You’re great at a lot of other things.” Whizzer held up the mask with a playful smirk. “Like saving me from storms. And apparently keeping massive secrets.”
Marvin chuckled nervously. “Speaking of secrets, you can’t tell anyone about this. My identity, I mean. It’s… complicated.”
Whizzer nodded, his tone turning serious. “I get it. Your secret’s safe with me. Promise.”
They stood there for a moment, the rain beginning to lighten around them. Marvin glanced at the mask in Whizzer’s hand and then back at him. “So… want to grab coffee after this? You know, when we’re not drenched and freezing?”
Whizzer’s grin returned, brighter than ever. “Are you asking me on a date, Cohen?”
Marvin felt his cheeks flush again, but he nodded. “Yeah. I guess I am.”
“Good.” Whizzer stepped closer, brushing a strand of wet hair from Marvin’s forehead. “Because I’ve been waiting for you to ask me that too.”
Marvin smiled, his heart feeling lighter than it had in ages. For once, he didn’t mind standing in the rain.