10+ Advance chapters on P@treon.com/Saintbarbido.
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(Jon's P.O.V)
"J-Jon! Jon!"
Mom's voice sounded frantic.
"No! Stay back!"
I yelled out, throwing a hand back. I must have done something wrong, as the air behind me rippled with a shockwave, producing a gale that blew backwards.
Hearing her scream made me open my eyes in panic, only to remember what they contained and quickly shift my head once more.
As a result, the patio was cut clean by lasers, ending only when I closed them again. But that brief moment had allowed me to see her from the corner of my vision.
She was on the ground, staring up at me with horror.
'No...'
Anything but that.
I turned around and run, blowing past the fence, her voice calling out to me.
But this time I ignored it. She couldn't understand. Now I know what it was like for Dad. How easily you could hurt those you love, even if you didn't want to...
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A few minutes had passed.
I had arrived on the edge of our farm. The ground here was higher, on account of the rocky terrain from a previous meteor shower.
A place Ma, Pa and I usually camped out to watch the stars.
We would lay down on the back of Grandpa's old Pick Up truck, drinking hot cocoa and eating Mom's sandwiches.
The view of the stars was always beautiful at night. But now, I don't know if I'll ever get to watch them again.
Was I being melodramatic? Maybe.
But everytime I opened my eyes, the laser beams would race out, dying everything in my vision red.
It had happened three times already.
A good chunk of the neighbouring farmland was burning. The vandalism made my heart ache with regret. I was creating more problems for Mom and Dad.
Was there something wrong with me? Why wasn't I getting the hang of it??!
Dammit! Dammit! I punched the ground, my hand shattering a small rock into peebles. It wasn't enough to get rid of my anger and frustration. I raised it up again.
"Jon."
His voice made me stop, the hand freezing in the air.
"D- Dad?"
I hated the hope that filled my words. And yet, I couldn't help but feel relieved he was here.
"I'm here son. It's alright now."
My father gently held my shoulders, pulling me in for a hug.
I tightly held on to him, seeking the familiar warmth that let me know without being told that I was loved.
I found it.
Tears started streaming down my closed eyes.
"It's alright Jon. It's alright."
He kept whispering, while rubbing my back.
I'm shamed at myself. A grown ass man who had seen two lifetimes and I was sobbing like a child.
After I had calmed down, and we had stopped hugging, Dad tilted my chin up.
"Open your eyes Jon."
The fear came back.
"N-no... I can't control it. I almost hurt Ma..."
I fervently shook my head.
The fantasy of being a Kryptonian had been broken. Now I knew the reality. The weight of carrying such incredible abilities.
"You can't hurt me Jon. I promise."
He assured.
And despite knowing he was telling the truth, I was reluctant. What if something went wrong? What if...
"Nothing will go wrong. I promise."
He chuckled as if reading my mind.
"Just trust me son. Open your eyes. Open your eyes and look at me, Jon."
I opened them and the laser beams immediately speared out of my vision, slamming into his chest.
My chest seized up in fear, hastily I backed off, bringing my hands up to cover the eyes.
But Dad stopped them. And that's when I noticed he was unhurt. The eye beams burned through his red plaid shirt but failed to go through, bouncing off his body in splintered waves that scattered into the surroundings.
"See?"
He softly said.
"You can't hurt me Jon. Now relax yourself and turn off the heat vision."
"I-I ca-"
"Yes. You can."
He cut off my objections firmly.
"I believe in you. You just need to believe in yourself."
His words filled me with confidence, reigniting my hope. Nothing was ever easy the first time. I remember falling several times before I got the hang of riding a bike.
Dad had said the same thing then.
It's a lot like finding balance on the seat, right?
Afterall, this was my body. I was in control not the other way around.
I closed my eyes shut and tried to relax. First was calming my racing heart, which was easier with Dad present. Second was taking control. I willed for the eye lasers to stop.
Almost instantly, the heat behind my eyelids receded to a gentle warmth, simmering at the back of my eyes.
Breathing out, I slowly opened them and no lasers followed. All I saw was Dad's easygoing smile as he gazed down at me.
"See. That wasn't so hard, was it?"
A snort escaped me, equal parts relieved and nervous.
"Tell it to the Johnson's, I think I burned down a quarter of their crops."
Dad winced.
"Yeah. Your Ma is going to ground you till you're 18. But don't worry about the damages, we can handle it."
"Thanks Dad."
I deflated, the weight off my chest.
Now my only other concern,
"There's also the house...and Mom, is- is she okay?"
I tentatively asked, recalling the horrified look on her face.
I wasn't immature to think she would stop loving me. Lois wasn't like that. She was genuinely the most loving person I knew in both lifetimes.
But if she started fearing me, I don't know how I could take that.
"Don't worry about your mom."
Dad patted my shoulders.
"She's seen a lot of crazy things. Her son suddenly getting powers and almost destroying the house ranks pretty low. You just have to talk to her. She's very worried about you."
It was comforting. And although I was still skeptical, I nodded and accepted his words.
That just left the last thing.
"Ah, Dad, why are you wearing Superman's costume?"
My question made him stare at his chest, where a red S symbol was emblazoned on a yellow background in the shape of a diamond.
"Aaah..."
For the first time ever, Dad was tonguetied.
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Eventually he said he would explain it once we got home.
I didn't push and we started walking towards the house, riding on his shoulders.
My nervousness came back when the roof came into view. It intensified as we passed through the gate.
Mom was talking on the phone below the steps of our damaged house.
"...no, thank you Mrs. Johnson. And again, I'm so sorry about the fireworks...Yes I'll give them a stern talking to..."
She cut off the call with a sigh before hearing our approach and turning around.
"H-hey Mom..."
I called out in a low voice, staring at her with my head bowed.
Her face was puffy, showing she had been crying. At the sight of me on top Dad's shoulders, she immediately rushed towards us, full of relief.
"Jon! My baby, are you okay?"
The concern in her voice made my throat close up in emotion.
I jumped down and ran into her hug, the two of us holding each other tightly, though I was very careful not to use too much strength. Slowly, I was gaining better control of these abilities.
Being smothered into her chest while she cried and uttered sorry over and over again, let me know how shortsighted I was.
I was loved. And that wasn't going to change.
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The three of us were now seated inside the kitchen.
My parents were on one side, and I was on the opposite, my mind buzzing with the revelation I had just heard.
"Your father is Superman."
Mom repeated, her voice hesitant yet filled with a mix of emotions. The two of them were studying my face worriedly.
I stayed silent for a moment, relishing the tension in the air. Then, unable to contain myself, I chuckled,
"I had my suspicions, Pa. There's only so many times you can go out for milk."
Dad shook his head, a bit embarrassed, while Mom snorted and teased him,
"I told you he's smarter than you think."
Turning to me, she asked,
"Why didn't you say anything sooner?"
"I figured you'd tell me when you were ready."
I replied with a shrug.
The two of them exchanged a knowing look, their expressions filled with pride and love as they stared my way.
I looked away, blushing slightly(dammit I can't help but yearn for their approval) and changed the subject.
"Anyway, what happens now?"
Dad got up with a smile.
"How about I give you your first flying lesson?"
My heart leaped with excitement, but I contained it, turning to mom to hear her opinion.
She crossed her arms and adopted a serious tone.
"I know you're excited to learn about your powers, Jon, but I have a few conditions."
I gulped nervously, waiting to hear what they were.
"First, you will do everything in your power to keep them a secret." Mom began solemnly.
"The world is not a friendly place, Jon, and there are people who won't hesitate to come after you and those you love if they find out what you can do. Your father knows what I'm talking about."
Dad nodded in agreement, unusually serious.
I understood why they were concerned, but this was a world fraught with danger at every corner. Hiding them wasn't always going to be an option.
"I promise I'll try to keep them a secret."
I assured them.
Mom wasn't satisfied.
"Try? What do you mean try?"
Looking them both in the eye, I said firmly,
"I won't stand by and watch if I can use them to save someone, Mom. Like it or not, I'm your son, and I want to help, just like I know you would."
Dad looked proud, tousling my hair, while Mom simply sighed in resignation,
"Fine. Just as long as you don't put yourself in any danger."
Yes!
She surprised me by gently taking my hand in hers.
"Please, Jon. Do be careful. I don't know what we would do if you got hurt."
Taking those words to heart, I gently squeezed her hands, staring into her eyes,
"I promise, Mom. I won't risk my life. So what was the second condition?"
She narrowed her eyes at me, as if trying to find out if I was lying or not.
Just as quickly, her expression turned stern.
"No skipping school or your chores, young man."
Aaand she's back.
"You do know I'm at the top of my class right? With perfect grades and everything. School is-"
"Necessary."
She cut in with a tone that brokered no argument.
"No. Skipping. School."
I looked to Dad for help, but he pretended to look away, actually whistling.
So whipped. Poor guy. I feel sorry for him.
I sighed. There goes my plans to train.
"No skipping school, got it."
Dad clapped his hands.
"Good. With that out of the way, Jon, what do you say we stop by Antarctica real quick?"
My face lit up with surprised happiness.
"You mean you're taking me to Superman's Fortress of Solitude?! Hell yes!"