Despite all my best efforts, I wake up hyperventilating. Since I can't even manage to speak, Pa hands me a sandwich bag. When my breathing eventually slows down, he looks at me.
"Better?"
I nod.
"Just a really bad dream. I was trapped in my old room and it kept getting smaller and smaller. I couldn't even yell for help...I was too scared."
Pa hugs me.
"Well, you're [safe] now."
I smile.
"I know that. I'll always be safe with you. You're my hero. Even though you protect a lot more people than just me. Take it from me, Metropolis is huge!"
He smiles.
"It's no surprise to me that you know that, my little genius."
I'm 12 and I have an I.Q. of 175. I've graduated high school and I'm 4 feet 6 inches tall. I notice the clock. Almost time to go to work. It's not long before I'm ready to go. I grin.
"Race you!" "Fair enough."
Once we're both outside his apartment with the door closed, he clears his throat.
"On your mark. Ready? Get set. Go!"
I run to the Daily Planet, as fast as I can, grinning all the way.
"I'm going to win!"
I do end up winning.
"My own daughter beats me. Where's the justice in that?"
I smile.
"I may be a genius but I'm not sure where it is. Perhaps Superman fights for it?"
Pa rolls his eyes. It was a little humor pointed at him. My Pa is Clark Kent, A.K.A Superman. I'm Nori Kent, A.K.A Ottergirl. Yeah, that's me. Otterness and all. Unlike my Pa, however, I'm a junior reporter.
I walk in, remembering how startled I was when I visited here the first time. Well, technically, it was my second time. During my first visit, I was in a briefcase. Don't ask.
That doesn't bring up the best memories for me, since I'm claustrophobic. Of course, I have other memories that are much worse...I feel myself shake a little bit.
I don't like remembering Mom. She's dead now though. Shortly after she died, Pa found me. If you've read the story about my time in court, well, you know what happened next. I became, as Jimmy put it on Independence Day, Clark's kid.
He's been there for all the nightmares that I've had because of the, as Aunt Linda refers to it, hell my Mom put me through. Aunt Linda is what I call Pa's cousin, Linda Lee, A.K.A Supergirl. She was waiting for me at home when Pa took me back from the time I ran away. I got lost. Hey, I said Metropolis is a big city. There's parts of it I haven't seen yet. But I think I know the city well enough to do my other job.
Grandma made the uniform for it. Knowing who my Pa is, I think you can guess who she and Grandpa are. Let me give you a hint. They live in Smallville, Kansas. Nice place. My second home. Pa took me to their place for my second visit when I got really sick. If you can't figure out who they are by now, well, their real names are Jonathan and Martha Kent. Pa said once that they're responsible for making him who he is. So, yeah, they're good people to have as part of my family.
I know I'll always be [safe] when I'm with them or any member of my [family] for that matter. Little bit of Otter language for you there. I understand and speak it fluently, plus I'm giving lessons to Pa and Aunt Linda. Pa knows more words but they're both really good at speaking it. That's good because I find hearing them speak Otter language comforting. When I'm in Otter form, it's all I can speak so they should know a few words.
What else should you know about me? Oh.
I'm not afraid of green-eyed women anymore (Mom had green eyes) and I'm working on my fear of closed closets. Hey, those bring back really bad memories for me. I really like being in water. That makes sense, doesn't it?
My first friend is Flash. Yeah, I've been to the Watchtower. It has an awesome view. As far as other friends, Liberty (my stuffed otter that I won from a watermelon eating contest on Independence Day) doesn't really count, right? So, you could say that Lois and Jimmy are my friends. Jimmy was the first person that I rescued as Ottergirl. He's a photographer, so you can see how my costume looks. Coincidentally, a song called The Middle really helps me with my fears. Where's the coincidence, you ask? The name of the band that plays it is called Jimmy Eat World. Pa will sometimes sing lyrics of that song to me when I'm afraid. Like I said, it really helps. Just ask Flash.
He saw firsthand what that song does for me. Other than my family, he's the only one who knows about my otterness. I made that word up. Pa refers to it as my "more special qualities". As a reporter, he's good with words. Just look at his notebook on me. I confess, that's what made me run away because, at first, I wasn't sure what to make of it. But now, I think it's really cool reading it. I like to read. With an I.Q. as high as mine, that's no surprise, is it? Obviously I like to write too. Look who my Pa is.
"Hi C.K. Hi Nori."
I smile.
"Hi Jimmy. Chief want us Pa, Lois, and I A.S.A.P?" "You are smart!"
I head to Perry White, A.K.A Chief's office. He wants an interview with Ottergirl. That just may complicate things.
Once we're out of Chief's office, Pa whispers to me in a voice only I can hear. I've got really good hearing. It's even better when I'm in Otter form. Same thing goes for my sight and sense of smell.
"I'll cover for you, [my Nori.]"
I nod. Soon, I reappear on the roof of the Daily Planet as Ottergirl. Nice view. I can see my house from here. I ignore the sight of my old house. Though I do wonder if my stuff is still in there. If it is, I should go get it someday. I want Pa to see my high school diploma. I know it's something he'd like to see.
First things first. Pa and Lois appear on the roof of the Daily Planet.
"I'm Ottergirl. I heard you guys wanted to give me an interview..."
