Shatterpoint

By Serena Kenobi

Rating: T

Author's Note: I know I already have Superman story in the works, but this idea has been brewing in my head for a long time, and I finally decided to get it on paper. This has no connection whatsoever to 'Born To Fly', which has reached a slight dead end for me at the moment. I'm sure I'll finish it, but it's not on my top priority list. This is a completely different story.

Setting: Takes places fourteen years before and after Superman Returns. If you haven't seen the movie, you'd better. It will be jumping between different POVs.

Disclaimer: I only own the characters I create. Everything else belongs to DC comics.

Chapter One: The Kent Household

(Kara POV)

Creeping softly into my brother's bedroom, I glanced around carefully to make sure that he wasn't awake. Seeing him sprawled out on the bed, completely turned the wrong way, his mouth wide open, I stifled a giggle and tiptoed towards him.

"Oaf!" With my usual clumsiness, I had tripped over a large sneaker of his, falling flat on my face. Hoping that he hadn't heard me, I slowly raised my head and peeked up at him.

My older bro could sleep even if a fifty-pound weight dropped onto his stomach, I mused. Guess his super-hearing wasn't as attuned as my dad's.

I stood up, brushed myself off, and abruptly yanked the covers off of him, shouting, "JASON, TIME TO SAVE THE WORLD!"

Jason's eyes flew open, and he promptly turned over, startled, and fell right off the bed. "Augh!" he cried. I snickered, enjoyed my moment of triumph and victory until he suddenly hopped up, glaring furiously at me. His eyes were starting to turn slightly red…

Uh-oh.

"Blame it on Mom and don't use lasers!" I quickly said, and sped out of the room before he started shooting lasers out from his eyes in my direction. He and I would have laser wars on our Smallville farm, but here, in the Metropolis apartment, it was risky showing that certain power, even in our own home.

I whisked into the kitchen to find my dad reading the paper, a cup of coffee in a hand, and my mom cooking up some breakfast. She didn't even glance in my direction as I abruptly zoomed up next to her.

"Hon, could you grab the cheese for me?" she calmly asked, stirring up some scrambled eggs, as if someone speeding faster than a bullet in the home was a normal thing.

"Sure," was my reply, and in the blink of an eye, the cheese was laying on the counter next to her. I grinned at her, and she shot me a stern look. My smile drooped for an instant, but when I noticed a smile creeping onto her face, and her eyes twinkled, I knew she didn't mind me showing off my powers.

I turned towards the other parent, who was sitting quietly. "Hey, Dad," I greeted, sitting down across from him at the circular table.

The paper folded down in front of me, and my father's startling blue eyes met mine. "Hey, Kara," was his gentle answer. "How did you sleep last night?"

I shrugged. "Eh, the usual. How 'bout you? Get an uninterrupted sleep for once?" I poured myself a cup of juice and sipped it.

He smiled and nodded. "Yes, I did. For once."

I laughed at his inside joke; and Mom came over and placed a plate of steaming scrambled eggs in front of him and me.

"Speaking of sleep," she started, hurrying around the kitchen to grab various condiments, "Where are your brothers?"

"Oh, Jason'll be down shortly," I grinned. "As for Nate…"

A breath of air rushing past alerted me to my ten-year-old brother's sudden arrival.

"Speak of the devil," I said under my breath.

"Present!" Nate exclaimed, sitting in a chair beside me. As usual, he was in an energetic and chipper mood. That didn't mean that he didn't annoy the heck out of me eighty percent of the time.

I rolled my eyes. "Aren't you always," I grumbled.

"I heard that," he shot back, sticking out his tongue.

Mom, who had expected this sort of conversation by now, shook her head and glanced at me. "Helena called," she said, changing the subject, "She wants to know if you and Jason could come over to the mansion this afternoon, I think she has something to show you."

"She liiiikes Jason," Nate smirked, stuffing eggs into his mouth. Mom raised an eyebrow, and he swallowed the food before she reprimanded him.

"Oh, really?" Dad said. "Well, they are good friends."

Mom gave him a look of disbelief. "Good friends? Clark, they obviously have feelings for each other."

"He's only nineteen, Lois," my father shrugged. "It's not like he'll be getting married anytime soon."

Nate snickered, making a face of revulsion at the thought of his older brother getting married. "Hope not," he grimaced.

"Jason!" Mom called, bringing another plate of eggs over to the table, "Hurry up, or you'll be late for…"

Another blur rushed through the kitchen, and Jason sped into his chair, cramming food into his hungry mouth. I rolled my eyes and snorted.

"Sorry about that, Mom," he apologized, "I was rudely awakened by someone," he narrowed his eyes and shot me a look.

Mom sat down across from him. "I told her to do it," she explained, "Don't blame your sister."

"Hah!" I said gleefully, kicking him in the shin. He kicked me back, and I scowled.

"Aw," Nate whined, "You woke him up without telling me? No fair." He sat back and pouted.

"Kids, that's enough," Mom put in, glaring at Jase and me. "You're acting like two-year olds, not like a nineteen and a fourteen-year old. Grow up!"

We both stopped fighting and stared down at our plates sullenly.

"Apologize," Mom snapped, very agitated.

We didn't say anything.

"Kids, listen to your mother," Dad added more gently.

"Sorry," we muttered to each other.

There was a silent pause before Mom cleared her throat, "Oh, Jason," she said, "Helena called."

"She did?" Jason eagerly leaned forward. Noticing that I was trying not to laugh, he frowned and leaned back. "I, uh, mean, she did? What for?" The second time was not so enthusiastic.

"Well," Mom continued, spreading a bit of butter on her toast, "She wants you and Kara to come over to the mansion and check out something."

I grabbed a piece of toast. "Did Lena say what?"

Mom shook her head. "Nope. Guess you'll have to find out when you get there, won't you?"

There was another comfortable silence for the next few minutes while we all ate breakfast, until Dad hastily stood up, gazing out at Metropolis. Jason, Nate, and I all looked up at him and then to each other. We all knew what was coming. Dad glanced at Mom, who gave him an intent gaze.

"Well?" she said expectantly. "Go on, baby."

Dad grinned, kissed her quickly, and whooshed out the door in a blur of red and blue. Mom smiled, Nate stared longingly after his father, no doubt wishing that he could go with him, and Jason and I gave each other a sideways glance. We both knew Mom loved it when Dad saved people. I also noticed that whenever he was wearing his super suit, she had a dreamy look in her eyes.

Er, no comment.

The rest of breakfast was finished in peace, and we helped Mom do the dishes – the quick way – and got ready for school and work. I flipped on the TV and watched as Dad stopped an armed robbery in London and sighed, wishing that I could be there with him.

Jason came up and put a hand on my shoulder. "Someday, sis," he spoke.

I nodded. "I know, Jase, but that doesn't mean I don't want to be out there. Anyways," I turned off the TV, "When do you think you're gonna be out there?"

"Not for a long time," Mom added sharply, grabbing her purse. "Come on, you two. Let's go. Your father is Superman, he'll be fine."

Jason and I could only shrug in return.

Typical day in the Kent home.

Well, we'll see how things go. Not sure how much I can update, seeing as how I'm in the middle of writing at least five other stories, plus a book. Yikes!

Don't forget to press the little blue button and tell me what you think!

- Serena Kenobi