A one-shot about Lois and Clark discussing about telling their son's the family-secret. Takes place before the beginning of the series…
"Clark, we have to talk about it!"
Hearing these words from his wife Lois, Clark moaned. He turned on the light. Lois was sitting upright and with crossed arms in their bed. She was obviously mad, worried, and sad.
"Lois, we have talked about is so many times!" Clark responds, putting on his glasses, that laid on the side-table. "You know what I think about it!"
"And I respect your opinion! Really! But the things are changing. They are changing! We are changing! We should at least talk about it!"
Clark was honestly not in mood. It was rare that they could spend the night together. Really wanting to just spend a quite night with his wife. But she was too upset to have a quite night. It was half past one in the night, and it was still impossible for her to fall asleep. After their son's diagnosis today, Clark understood her. But it was a serious matter she wanted to discuss.
"Can we talk tomorrow about it, please?" Clark asked. "Believe it or not, but even I need to rest sometimes! Good night, Lois!"
Clark turned off the light and laid down again. He didn't need light to mention that Lois didn't move. Instead, he was able to hear her frown.
"You want to talk about it, now?" Clark moaned and turned on the light again. "Fine… Normal families rest and relax at this time!"
"We are not a normal family! You know that!" Lois responds.
Clark knew that she was right: To the outside, the Kents were a family like any other living here in Metropolis. Clark Kent and his wife Lois Lane both working for the biggest newspaper in the country and their teenage sons. Two dizygotic twins. Jonathan and Jordan. But in truth they were not as normal as they pretend to be, cause Lois and Clark had a big secret: Clark is Superman! A powerful Superhero, originally from another Planet. A planet that was destroyed when he was a Baby. And to save his Life, his parents put him into a spaceship and send him to Earth. Here he was found by his human-parents and grew up to the man he was today…
Thanks to his bodystructure and the yellow sun of the earth he has incredible abilities he uses to help others. The whole world knows him as Superman. He was a hero for everyone. But he grew up on Earth, has a family and friends and he never wanted to give up his human identity. And today he was married to the love of his Life and had kids…
"I am worried, Clark. I mean what if… you know…"
"I know, Lois. I know… wait, let me check the boys first…" Clark said, before using his super-hearing to keep sure that the boys were sleeping. Both laid in their rooms, sleeping peaceful. "Okay, they sleep."
"There is a chance for it to happen. And, you can admit it, you would be happy and proud if they…"
"I know Lois. But having powers is also connected with big responsibility and it could also cause trouble. Lois, do you remember the first time we had this discussion?"
"Of course, I do! And believe me, I will never forget it…"
It was around two weeks after Lois figured out that she is pregnant and before they knew that they expect twins. They were so excited. So thrilled. Clark always thought that he will never ever have children. The A.I. of his biological father in the fortress told him that he can never have kids with a human as Kryptonian and Human DNA are not compatible with each other. But they proved that it was possible. Lois was alone, waiting for Clark to return from Superman-duty and fell asleep on the couch. Having that dream she will never forget…
Walking cheerful, with a stroller over a brick path surrounded by wide fields with flowers. It was like in a kitschy detergent commercial, that was airing back then. Lois was happy and carefree. She met a group of other mothers with strollers and all wearing the same dress as she did (just each in a different color). They invited her immediately to join their group and all the mothers praised her Baby. The other mothers gave her compliments for her cute, adorable baby and how sweet it looks in its Superman-rompers. But suddenly the baby lifts out of the stroller by itself and start to fly over the group. The other mothers screamed and pointed with their fingers on her, while screaming loudly: It's Superman's Baby! Oh my gosh… Clark Kent is Superman. It's just the glasses...
Lois woke up with a loud scream. Clark was able to hear her scream while he was extinguishing a big fire in a high-rise building in Medellin and flew back to Metropolis immediately. That was the first time they talked about it. About the possibility that their baby might inherit his father's kryptonian powers.
Over the years they had this discussion countless of times. Every time there was something. Every time, Lois had a bad dream. Every time one of the boys showed traces of powers or other quirks that were not normal for boys of their age. And there were countless of moments that were indications for both Kent brothers not being average humans. Too much to retell them all now.
"Clark, what if it's happening? The doctor said it is a social anxiety disorder. But… what if it is…" Lois said before she continued whispering. "… super-hearing…"
Clark looked on her worried. "I admit… I had that thought too."
"But you were not thinking about it properly." Lois accused. "Clark, believe me. I can feel it. Sooner or later, we will have to tell them. Maybe tomorrow, maybe next week, maybe in a year… no matter when, but the day will come. And I feel bad that we don't tell them. That we lie to them…"
"Me too, Lois. But we haven't told them because we both want them to have a normal life."
"Normal, Clark?" Lois frowned again. "Clark, we always come up with excuses when you are absent. You have razors and shaving crème in the bathroom only for Display…"
Because of his invulnerability, the only way for Clark to shave was his laser vision he used on himself with a mirror. Sometimes he even flew to the fortress just for it. Only to not do it in the bathroom.
"…you have spare glasses all over the house. You even wear them under the shower." Lois continued. "You… you have developed so many weird quirks, just to hide your secret. Our secret. If you like it or not, it's the boys secret, too. From the day they were born, it was already their secret, too. If they know or not! Instead, we are acting. If our life would be a sitcom, the laugh-track would never stop."
Clark moaned again. "Yes, you're right! Okay, Lois you know that there are various possible scenarios…"
The first possible scenario: Both boys don't inherit any powers!
"Would it be disappointing for you?" Lois asked.
"Lois, I admit I would be proud if the boys inherit my powers. But I am proud on them anyway. Having no powers would it make possible for them to live normal lives! Not having the constant burden, I have."
"They could be disappointed?" Lois added. "Mad because they don't have powers."
"One more reason not to tell them!"
"Clark?!"
"Sorry! You know what I mean!"
The second possible scenario: Both boys inherit all his powers!
"Then we have to tell them at any cost!" Clark responds.
"Better before something happens!"
"Oh, you mean… a sudden power outburst!"
"Yeah… for example…" Lois tried to imagine and simply used a nightmare she had when the boys were younger: "What if they go to school one day and depart into the air?"
"My flying powers don't work like that!"
"Or what if they develop powers, and don't tell us! Teenagers don't tell their parents everything! They could hide it from us until it is too late for us to help them! Or worse… they could go out doing Superman-stuff without even telling you. You did that, too when you were a teenager."
"Well, back then I was… oh… yeah you are right! But the chance that both will inherit all my powers is small!"
"According to what? To that A.I. of your father in the fortress. Nothing against your biological father Clark: But I am not sure that a hologram, that never put a step on this planet, or even haven seen the boys, knows how high the chance is!"
Lois was right! According to Jor-El, it was impossible that the boys even exist. When they were born, the A.I. told him that it was not possible to predict how much Kryptonian and how much Human they were. He would have taken them to the fortress regularly for tests. And he couldn't take two babies to the Arctic. When they became older, it was too late anyway. Jonathan and Jordan were the first Human-Kryptonian-Hybrids ever born. But Clark just wanted them to be humans.
The third possible scenario: Only Jonathan will develop powers!
"What makes you so sure that this will happen?" Lois asked.
"Nothing! But… you have to admit that Jonathan's athletic abilities are far beyond normal for a boy of his age. You remember that day at the farm when he…"
"Yeah, and before you continue: Even your mother thought back then that it's beginning! You know I trust Martha more than every other person. I respect her opinion. And she thinks it could be because of you, too."
"That rope was old. A strong wind gust would have been enough to tear it…"
"Come on? Just a second ago you…"
"Sshhh…" suddenly Clark hissed on her to be quiet. "The boys!"
Clark listened to them, to keep sure that they don't listen. He could hear Jordan turning around in his bed. But that was everything. A few seconds later he nodded, and he and Lois continued.
"If Jonathan is the only one who inherits your powers, Jordan could be jealous?" Lois continued. "You know how sensible Jordan is. They have a very strong brotherly bond. Thousands of times better than I had with my sister. It could… tear them apart. Create tension between them…"
Clark agreed to her. He had no siblings. His (earth) parents always wanted at least two kids. But Martha was not able to become pregnant. They already gave up when suddenly Clark popped up in their life. He was a 'present from heaven', they always said. As an only child, he never knew how it would be to have siblings. And if he had a brother or a sister, born on earth… he was sure that he or she would have become extremely jealous…
"Not to forget that Jordan is struggling enough. As soon as he learns that he is half Kryptonian, he will freak out."
Another possible scenario was of course that only Jordan could develop powers.
"Why only Jordan? Because he is dark haired as you?" Lois asked.
"No! But… aww… I don't know what to say about it. But Jordan would need our attention more than he already does. He always needed… He will be mad!"
There were various other possible scenarios! But Lois and Clark start to change the topic…
"How you want to tell them?" Clark asked. "Call them to a family-meeting, telling them and just pretend that everything is normal and send them to school?"
"Gosh… No! When we tell them… We must tell them together! And… Because we want to tell them and not because we are forced to!" Lois said. "A forced truth is not better than a trusted one."
"What could force us to tell them?" Clark asked.
Lois shrugged: "I don't know… maybe a sudden power that appears… or imagine we visit the farm… and the boys find your spaceship…?"
"The boys know that they are not allowed to enter the barn alone!" Clark interfered.
"They are teenagers! Puberty teenagers! Show me one who obeys his parents!" Lois said. In her imagination she heard the audience laugh about them now. "Gosh… we are a god-dammed sitcom…"
"Well… in that case… of course we have to tell them. The boys won't believe it… I would have to take of my glasses and… who knows, lift the truck from the ground. But than they will be mad. Mad that we lied to them. Jonathan could be disappointed that all his efforts were because he is half Kryptonian. And Jordan could become more anxious than he already is."
"Clark but there would be a lot of advantages if they know…" Lois began.
"I know Lois…" Clark began. "I wouldn't have to lie to them anymore. They would be proud on me! We wouldn't need to come up with all these excuses anymore. I wouldn't have to hide my face from them! I could leave for an emergency with my superspeed in front of them without leaving the room before! But what if they become eager to be like me? What if really only Jonathan develops powers? Or Jordan? The other one could feel left out if I spend more time with the other one to train him?! I don't spend enough time with them already… Actually… If we tell them… I could spend more time with them. I mean, I don't have to come up with excuses anymore and could come to them faster if they need me!"
"Admit it, Clark!" Lois said. "You would love to tell them?"
Clark moaned: "Of course I would like to show them the fortress one day. Take them on a flight…"
"So… Why not?"
"Lois, this is not the right time!"
"And when you think will be the right time? When the boys really find your spaceship one day? When one of the boys suddenly shoots laser out of his eyes? When a new enemy shows up?"
"Yes, Lois… I know. And I know it would be better to tell the boys when we want to. And not because we are forced to. But you have to admit that no matter in which situation: The boys will be mad that we lied to them. Do you think we can deal with it? With the knowledge that the boys know?"
"You know deep inside you, that you want them to know, too."
"I want them… to be just boys! My boys! Jonathan and Jordan Kent! And not… Ehm… Superboy, Superguy, Superteen or whatever they would call each other than. Not… Jon-El and Jor-El. They are Jonathan and Jordan Kent! And I want their lives to be as normal as possible." Clark finished before putting his glasses away again and turn off the lights. "Let's talk later about it… Good night, Lois!"
Clark could feel that Lois was not moving again. But he could hear her frown again.
"Fine…" he said, when he turned on the light again. "…What makes you so sure that we are a sitcom?"
In her imagination Lois could hear the audience laugh again at this question.
"You mean, next to that question…" Lois made a short break for the audience to laugh again. "…what about the countless of moments in the boy's life, you feared that they see who you are and you acted awkward…"
"If you talk about that day in the park at the souvenirs-stand…" Clark interfered. "…It's not that I didn't want them to buy these Superman-T-Shirts, they were so attracted to, but even you would had said that it's weird to see them in them…"
"…what about on the boy's fifth birthday? You brought the boys a cake with Happy Birthday written in Russian on it!" Lois remembered. "… 'Fabricat in Moldova!' was written on the package. And you told the boys that the cake is from a colleague who only speaks Russian!"
"A plane was about to crash directly into the Central Market in Chisinau…" Clark told and remembered how he saw the stand with the cream cakes while catching the plane and rushed with his Superspeed back to the market to purchase one to get home earlier after placing the plane safely outside the city. "…but it was delicious…"
Lois could hear the audience laugh again: "… yeah, that's right. That was the best cream cake I ever ate…" more laughing.
"Timmy Tanner's birthday-party!" Clark remembered. "The boys were seven! We were with them and talking with other parents. Everyone who ate from the bad potato-salad suffered very bad stomach cramps…"
Clark imagined the audience laugh now. Lois was sure they would laugh now. "Gosh… Don't remember me that. Even you felt something in your stomach! But the boys… nothing! They ate more than any other on that party, from that salad… but nothing happened to them."
"Luck?" Clark guessed.
"I would rather say Kryptonian-antibodies!"
"That day Jonathan fell down the stair and remained unhurt?"
"Your genes!"
"The fact that both boys never get sick?"
"Your genes!" Lois said again.
"Their stubbornness?"
"Ehm… I admit that they might have it from me!" Lois admitted. Now Clark could swear that the audience will laugh.
"Lois… I love you. And the boys. You are the most important in my life. You come for me at the first, you know that! And I don't want to bother them with the knowledge that their own father is an alien. I don't spend enough time with you all and I wish I could do. And you know I would never use an emergency as an excuse to get away from…"
Clark suddenly stopped and listened to the world… he heard something…
In a strong windblow Clark was gone. Lois hairs were tossed around and fell into her face while everything in the room was blown away. Clark left to stop an avalanche in the Austrian Alps…
"What a lucky circumstance?!" Lois moaned. Letting the imagined audience enough time to burst out in laughter and applause before.
Please Review and keep well.
I had the idea of this chapter even long before the pilot was aired. I only get to see clips of the show, as I live in Germany where I can't screen it. But I thought that hiding something like being Superman from his own kids, led them to many awkward situations.
And I enjoy reading fics about what happened before the pilot. I have a lot of ideas for situations, Clark and Lois might have thought that their boys develop powers.
I hope you enjoyed. Stay healthy.