Dust.
As what remained of the world that once was filled with life fell through his fingers. A small breeze rolled through running across his muscular body that was clad in blue and red. Upon his chest that revealed a series of rock solid below was a large S inside a diamond. With his red cape fluttering in the breeze his dark blue eyes looked around in sadness at what Earth has become.
Scattered around his feet the sights of limitless gravestone spread out around him with names he recognized and many more he didn't. Blurred out were some names that even when he stood in front of didn't reveal themselves. He only knew they were important to him.
As he slowly strolled through the endless graveyard, he found himself in front of a large pristine stone. The sun reflected off it as it showed how much better this one was maintained compared to the others. With a heavy heart as he didn't know why, he looked down at the name that made a small tear run down his cheek.
--
Sitting up in a small panic, Jason wiped his cheeks that felt damp. As he quickly looks around he realised he is in his bed and Earth is still bustling with life. Luckily, Lala wasn't next to him as his clock read ten.
'It was that nightmare again.'
Pushing back against the inevitable that nearly everyone he knows will pass on while he remains. He remembers his father's words when he told him. The fate that belongs to them and the burdens that come with it.
--
"Son, this is going to be a bit awkward." James sat him down when Jason just turned ten. "I'm sure you don't want to hear this but I figured I'd better tell you now."
"Kryptonians have an average lifespan of around one hundred and fifty to two hundred years according to their planet year cycle. Which is a couple months longer than Earths, but that is going to be irreverent in a moment." James said as he pulled out an old photo.
In the photo was a woman with full white hair and wrinkles which made Jason assume she was in her mid to late eighties. She had a smile as she grabbed onto his father's arm as they gave the camera the best smile they could. Only his father didn't look much past twenty five with his neatly combed hair and ageless face.
"When this photo was taken, it was when Lois Lane had just turned ninety eight. Losing her was hard but I knew I would outlive her and she knew it too. We both figured I would live another century or so like a normal kryptonian life span. Clearly we were wrong." James paused as he looked down for a moment. "What I am trying to say is, the yellow sun doesn't just grant us abilities, it also extends our lifespans. Until a certain point where either the sun is yellow or not we just completely stop aging."
"So we are immortal?" Jason asked.
"We are probably the closest to it as it would take an incredibly strong guy to kill us. Even kryptonite becomes useless once we gain a resistance to it. However, it also comes with a heavy burden. We are fated to watch as our friends and loved ones leave us while we watch from the side. Generations and eras will come and go yet we will remain." James sighed as he drifted back into his thoughts.
"What I am trying to say Jason. Remember while it will hurt and you may feel alone, just look into your heart and remember all the time you had with them. It will lessen the pain but that pain will stay to remind you that life is fragile and don't forget it. Since while you may have time, others do not."
"Won't I always have you?" Jason asked as it hasn't quite hit home for him yet.
Being told he basically would outlive everything he holds dear was like a fantasy. It was like a far away thought for him at that time. It only began to sink in that night where he would dream of an endless graveyard.
"Son, I won't always be around and maybe in a thousand or two years if I am lucky, but I will return to my own universe." James replied slightly sad. To him a thousand years was basically a small break and would pass in a blink of an eye.
A smile formed as Jason gave him a hug as the thousand years still felt like a long time for him. Only he couldn't tell why James gave him a fake smile.
--
'Maybe I am overthinking it.' Jason thought as he got ready for the day.
After finishing up, he went downstairs where he found Lala. She currently had her feet up while she played a game. At the sight of her rapidly pushing the buttons with a frown on her lips. Either she is attempting some difficult glitch or is losing badly.
"Are you finally up, Jason?" Lala asked as she paused the device.
"Yeah, but you could have woken me up." Jason responded as he walked into the kitchen to grab an apple.
"I figured you were having a pleasant dream so I allowed you to sleep in. It isn't often I wake up before you afterall." Lala shrugged.
'There was nothing pleasant about that dream.' Jason thought before changing the topic. "So anything on the todo list today?"
"I was thinking maybe we could just go treasure hunting or walk around the mall. We haven't really gone anywhere for a few days."
Bouncing the ideas around in his head, Jason agreed. Since graduation both of them have been slightly lazy in leaving the house. So, it might be a nice change of pace for them.
"Let our adventure begin." Jason smiled as he tossed Lala over his shoulder carrying her out of the house.
"Jason, put me down." Lala giggled.
"We are treasure hunting are we not? Well you're my treasure." Jason winked as he laughed at her flustered face.
'It's going to be a good day,' Jason thought as a smile appeared on his face.