Welcome to this new part of my series!
This story serves as some kind of filler, and has nothing to do with the actual plot. But I couldn't avoid writing this. Sequel to Lose your mind! and Lose your patience!
For those who haven't read the previous parts: After a fight with his parents Jonathan wanted to leave to move in with a friend but got accidentaly knocked out by his father and got amnesia. During this amnesia he loved being Kryptonian and got a flying lesson. After regaining his memories, Jonathan was so ashamed and so sick of his family that he decided to tell a friend the whole story.
Jonathan was grateful for the chance to spend several days away from Smallville and get a break from his weird family…
After a terrible fight with his father, that ended with gotten knocked out and getting amnesia, he was taken to the family-fortress. For the first time ever, he finally got to meet his grandmother. And figured out that he was going to become like his father and brother, too. And that his father almost let him die, after he knocked him out because his amnesia was an Kryptonian-amnesia that was only treatable in the fortress, and he procrastinated it…
After leaving the farm, Jon drove with his old friend Timmy Tanner to latter's house in a suburb of Metropolis. On the way there, after Timmy made a comment that upset Jon and after figuring out that there was an Instagram-post showing him in his father's old suit and his father during their 'flying-lesson', Jonathan had another mental breakdown and decided to tell his friend everything.
Timmy, who almost got kidnapped by the Smallville football-team, several hours ago and was full of painkillers and sedatives, took it better than expected. The following day, Timmy's parents returned earlier from their weekend-trip after learning about the kidnapping attempt. Jon was happy that they were not mad on him, or for their son's injuries. Only Timmy was totally wasted. The shock finally set in, he realized that he almost died, and the revelation that the man he adored like a god his whole life, was just a corn-farmer from Kansas who neglected his powerless son and preferred the powered one.
After a day at Timmy's house, Monday morning was much happier and better. The Tanners were such lovely and hospitable people. Both were surprised about Jon's good German skills. A Kryptonian brain turns out to make him a quick learner, Jonathan realized. Otherwise he wouldn't had learned two foreign languages (one of them not even from this planet) in only two days. Timmy had time to recover and calm down while Jonathan decided to use the week at Timmy's as good as possible…
Jonathan wanted to do normal things. Timmy's friends invited him to hang out with them. And Timmy offered him driving lessons in the morning hours. Jon didn't hesitate to agree. And in the afternoon they would hang out with others. A welcoming distraction from the drama that was going on in Smallville and the trials he would have to attend to in near future.
Jonathan knew that, as soon as his powers kick in (Lara guessed soon), the normal life he wanted to life, will be over. And he knew his father will start to spend much more time with him as soon as Jonathan will be able to do all the things his brother already can. For Jonathan, it was just a prove that his father only loves him because of powers. He wanted to be loved for who he is and not for having powers. First his father needs to prove that he really cares for him…
But Jonathan decided to not let his anger on his family ruin his week in his home city Metropolis. After all the power- and Krypton-related bullshit in the past two years, he was looking forward for some normality. Constantly ignoring his friends' Timmy's curiosity and his regularly questions. Timmy would get his answers soon enough, Jonathan always said to avoid the Superman-matters as good as possible.
And so, the two teenagers sat in Timmy's hatchback and drove threw the quite suburb. The hatchback was totally not like the truck Jon got from Tal-Rho. But Jon agreed that learning to drive in a smaller car was easier than in a big one. And thanks to the two times he was forced to drive his fathers old pick-up, he had no problem with the manual transmission of this car.
At least until the host of the radio show, that was playing, announced a special programming in TV at 12.30 p.m. today… about Superman's son…
Jonathan almost crashed Timmy's car into a garden when he heard it. He was so upset that he couldn't continue with the driving-lesson anymore. After yelling and screaming loudly for a couple of seconds, Jonathan and Timmy swapped seats and Timmy got them back to his house…
Timmy's parents were both at work. So they were alone. Giving Jonathan time and space to be upset. At first, he didn't want to watch it. Thinking that it is the punishment for being so uncareful. Then he almost burst out in tears, because he thought it in Kryptonese. A language that was suddenly struck in his head. Lara said it is normal. But thanks to his parents, nothing felt normal for him…
Since his departure he had never answered his parents messages. But he texted with Jordan, Sarah and Natalie. He got also a lot of 'apology-messages' from the people who used to bomb him with treads and hate-messages after he got caught with the X-K. But he ignored them all. If they are not able to tell him that directly into the face, they don't need to try.
But what he read from his parents was not as bad as he expected…
'It is not your fault. Everything will calm down.' His father wrote.
His mother wrote two seconds later: 'Everything is okay. Nobody can see your face. We find a solution.'
Jonathan sat in Timmy's living-room and glared on his smartphone to see the picture the whole world was talking about…
He and his father flying together in matching suits and with stretched out arms. Nobody was able to see his face. But everyone was able to see his happy smiling father and how much he enjoyed it. So much that he didn't mention that they pass a Japanese airliner close enough for the passengers to see them and for the first officer to take a photo of them. A photo he published on Instagram only a few seconds later…
Jonathan tried to ignore the hype it caused. He didn't want it. He always thought it will be Jordan, who will be spotted during flying practice one day and not him, who has not even powers. That Jordan will be the one who gets recognized as Superboy. And not Jon who felt like a Supercheat…
He didn't care that the public loved the thought of Superman having a son. He didn't care about suddenly having hundreds of millions of fans worldwide. He didn't care that for the first time in years, his parents were more worried about him than Jordan. He only wanted to get everything behind him.
It was probably the first time in his life, Jonathan watched a full news show. They watched the 12 o'clock news and were surprised that the final report in the news was about Smallville and about the latest scandal…
"…that many people believe now that the severe damages in the local high-school were caused by one of the students who continued using X-K…"
"Jordan destroyed the school. Not them!" Jonathan murmured while in TV footage from the damage in the high school was aired. Jonathan was impressed by his brother's braveness that day.
"…Everyone who got caught with X-K on Saturday, insists to have nothing to do with this. The coach and three members of the football team are under arrest. While multiple others were interrogated. It can be told for sure, that the former Coach and the X-K addicted students will pay a very high price for their attempt to turn their teammate into a scapegoat. This is Maggie Phillips from KLYT, RBS-News at 12. Smallville, Kansas."
"Thank you, Maggie!" the anchorman in the studio in Metropolis said and turned to the other camera. "Coming up, after a short break a much more enjoyable matter. We talk about the photo; the whole world is talking about. And about the boy, the whole world wants to know more about: Superman's supposed son..."
The photo was shown again. Jonathan began to tremble again.
"…In our news-special at 12:30, here on RBS!" the anchorman said before the camera was zoomed out and the channels-logo appeared before commercials began to air…
"NO! I can't do this!" Jonathan wailed and lift from the couch to leave.
"Jon, wait… I think… you have to watch this. If you don't… you might never stop brooding. Come on, nobody will ever know that it was you…"
"Aww… yeah, except my family and everyone else who knows the family secret…" Jonathan moaned. He could imagine his family and everyone else knowing who his father is, sitting in front of his or hers TV and watching this. "…aww… fine! But I swear you if you dare to…"
"Just sit down! I promise I won't ask any questions! I still have billions of questions, but…"
"Timmy… please…" Jonathan moaned and sat back on the couch next to his friend.
The commercials ended and the intro for the 'News-special' played…
The camera zoomed in to the same anchorman again and the famous photo was blended in in the background.
"Hello Ladies and Gentleman, to this RBS News-special: Superman's flying lessons! Who is Superboy?"
"I never agreed to the title Superboy!" Jonathan moaned. "It's Jordan's title!"
The anchorman continued: "It is literally the reveal of the century. Superman was spotted giving a flying-lesson to a young boy, wearing an old version of his iconic suit. Immediately after the publish of the picture, the world-wide community was enthusiastic about the identity of the young boy."
The picture in TV changed to a plane taxing over the apron of San-Francisco-International-Airport…
Another male-voice continued. "Passengers and crew of Nihon-Air-Flight 151 from Tokyo-Narita to San Francisco were two hours ahead of their planned arrival, when suddenly world famous superhero Superman passed the aircraft. And he was not alone! The first officer of the flight, 34-years old Makoto Kobayashi, who is also a passionate hobby-photographer, remembers!"
A Japanese man in a pilot's uniform was shown. He spoke Japanese but was drowned out by a translation.
Makoto Kobayashi/ Pilot
"Jitsuwa ito shi… I originally planned to take a picture of the coastline down there because it looks so beautiful, and the weather was perfect. But suddenly I mentioned Superman passing us. I had never seen him in person. So, I start to photograph him instead. But when I looked closer, I mentioned that there was a second Superman! I told the captain and he saw him, too. Then I looked on the photo I made with my phone and saw that there was indeed a second one… no mono ga atta koto!"
Frederick Thompson/ Passenger
"I was looking out of the window when suddenly the child in the row behind me yelled 'Superman'. I looked out of the window and saw indeed Superman. But I saw two Superman. I saw the Superman I know from TV. And the second one was much younger… a teenager."
Akiko Futabara/ Passenger
"Totemo miryoku… Very attractive boy! He had visibly a lot of fun while flying with his father. He was very happy to be up there…"
Makoto Kobayashi/ Pilot
"To omoimashta… I thought at first, that I saw wrong. That it was just imagination or a reflection in the window. But when I heard that many passengers saw the second Superman, too I took my phone to post the picture. I originally wanted to send to my brother, who is a big Superman-fan. But then I published it on Instagram… suru ni wa!"
The photo was shown again…
"On the photo clearly to be seen Superman and his companion who is hold by famous hero and tries to fly by himself. Many people are convinced that this is a flying-lesson!" the voice of the reporter continued. "With over 290 million likes so far, it is the most liked and most seen post on Instagram since the launch of the…"
"290 MILLION LIKES?!" Jonathan yelled shocked.
"See! The people love you!" Timmy encouraged him.
"…The face of the boy is not visible, as his arm covers most of his head. The photo has been already proved to be authentic and not a fake. But also, there are no evident clues about the identity of the boy, or what relationship he has to Superman!" the reporter continued.
Michael Grissom/ Passenger
"He is young. I would guess him to be between 15 and 18. And he was very happy! The suit was a bit too big for him. But… he looks good in it. Like it is his symbol, too. Like it is made for him…"
"Awww…" Jonathan moaned again.
The picture changed back to the anchorman in the studio…
"Superman himself has given no statement about the photo so far. During his last public appearance during a fire in Chisinau, several people tried to get answers."
Chisinau, Moldova
A smartphone-video of a burning apartment-building was aired, with a big fire raging on the tenth floor and several people standing on their balconies crying for help. Jon saw his father arriving and saving the people before flying up again to use his ice-breath to blow out the fire.
"This video, taken by a Moldavian student with his smartphone-camera, shows Superman on a rescue, only twelve hours after the photo was posted…" the reporter said. Jonathan knew that it was the early morning yesterday, while he was sitting in Timmy's living-room and learned German. "…many people wanted to know the story behind the picture."
Superman landing the last two survivors on the ground and immediately, the people surrounded him with cameras and questions.
"Superman, vazhe syn to… Superman, is your son here, too?" a boy asked in Russian before he was drowned out by a English voice that translated everything.
"Isvinitye pozha… Please excuse me, but I don't want to comment this yet!" Clark responds in Russian and Romanian but was drowned out the English translation, too.
Superman shoots up in the air and vanishes between the clouds. The picture changed to a boy sitting in a living-room who was interviewed via Skype.
Nicolae Ceban/ Eye-witness Source: Moldova Television Uno
"Am incerat sa-I intreb… I'd tried to ask him about his son, but he blocked the question and simply vanished."
"This is what all witnesses claimed after the event. Experts say that Superman's appearance and his usual expressions have changed since the photo was published." The reporter continued.
The picture changed to an elder man in a room full of bookshelves…
Dr. Jerry Shuster/ Behaviorist Metropolis University
"In Superman's sudden change of behavior, we can see that he is surprised and overwhelmed by the publication of the photo. He seems to play on time with answers, he is not ready to give yet. As it was maybe not planned that the existence of the boy will be revealed by this."
Back to the studio…
"With us here in the studio today is Dr. George Revee. Good day Doctor Revee and thank you for joining us today." The anchorman said.
"It is a pleasure for me!" an elder man in a grey business-suit and a red tie responds.
"You are studying Superman from the first day since he made his appearance. What is your opinion about who is the boy and in which relationship he stands to Superman?"
"There are many possibilities! Of course, it can be his son! I personally belong to the people who believe it! But it can also be another Kryptonian! At least since the revelation that Morgan Edge, was a Kryptonian, too we know all that Superman is indeed not the only survivor of his birth planet."
"What are the possibilities?"
"One theory is that the boy is indeed Superman's son! It would make a lot of sense for Superman never revealing that fact. We all know he does a lot of good things and has made a lot of enemies in the past twenty years. Revealing to the world that he has a child, would cause many criminals to intense their hunt for Superman."
"So, you think that this reveal was not planned?"
"Absolutely not! We can see that Superman is very amused and jaunty on the photo. As well as the boy! Both were so busy to have fun together, that they obviously didn't mention that they passed the jet airliner that close. And Superman usually avoids flight paths of airplanes. Ever since his first appearance there are no documented reports of Superman sightings from passengers. And every passenger aboard a plane all over the world, always looks out to see if Superman passes. The only reason Superman gets close to an airplane is when he safes it from crashing."
"The authenticity of the photo has been already proved! What other indications are speaking for the son of Superman theory?"
"Well, first the location! Superman and the boy were flying at an altitude of 38.000 feet with a speed of approximately 570 to 590 miles per hour. According to the statement of the flight-crew! The boy obviously must have Kryptonian-features. Otherwise, he would not be able to withstand the forces up there. Or the freezing temperatures at that altitude…"
Jonathan flinched at that thought. How did he survive that?
"…the outside temperature was around minus 58 degrees Fahrenheit, and the oxygen level was too low for people to breath." The doctor continued. "Another indication is the way Superman, and the boy were acting towards each other. According to the witnesses the chemistry between them was so close. There was a trust between them like only father and son can have them."
"Superman never gave any statements about his personal life. Is it possible that Superman is more than just the flying man?"
"Of course! Superman said, he lives on Earth for his entire life. According to his statement and since the reveal of Morgan Edge being Kryptonian, too it can be assumed that Superman was a baby when he arrived here. Superman once dropped the information that he didn't know about his home-planet. The common theory about Superman is that he grew up alone in a cave. Or that he arrived here when he was already grown up. But for that he is way to worldly…"
"A Kansas corn-farm is not what I would call worldly!" Jon murmured.
"… a long time theory I have is that Superman came here the same time, Morgan Edge arrived on Earth. According to the official investigations it was in 1979! Therefor 43 years ago. Around that time, Superman was still a baby. If he was still a baby, it is possible that he got found by someone. Someone who was not aware that the baby they found was not from Earth. Superman, has unlike Morgan Edge, a deep connection with Earth and with the humanity."
"So, Superman grew up as one of us? Is that what you mean with that?"
"Yes! Superman grew up in a stable environment with people who had high morale values and a big sense of justice! So, it might be possible that he was raised as a human, went to school, played with friends… that was long before he decided to become Superman. Everyone knows that Superman is just a title and not his actual name. So, it might be possible that he still goes by the name he got from his adoptive parents and lives a life like everyone else! A man having an everyday job, paying his bills and… raising his children. We know too less about Superman, about Krypton or about Kryptonians in general to make conclusions."
"In the first years after his public debut, there were a lot of rumors that the whole planet Krypton story was a hoax to hide the fact that Superman is actually not an alien but an metahuman. Or an secret experiment of a governmental lab."
"That he is an alien is now without doubt proved!"
"Now to his supposed son! What do you think is the reason he does not introduce him to the public, too?"
"Possibly he waits for the boy to be ready. We know nothing about the boy? We can only assume that he was born here on Earth! But the mother of the boy can only be human."
"So, Superman's son is not as Kryptonian like him?"
"Maybe Superman was waiting for his child to develop powers? Or he guessed that his children will be powerless, since they have a human mother and were born on Earth!"
"Is it possible that Superman's offspring can be powerless?" the anchorman asked.
Jonathan felt offended by this question. He never had a problem with being powerless. He only had a problem with the fact that his family let him feel that he does need powers to be loved…
"I could be… It could be also that his children are as powerful as him. It can be that they are weaker than him. Everything is possible. For that we know way too less about Superman and Kryptonians in general. That are questions, only Superman can answer. And he has for sure a reason to wait with these answers until he is sure what to say."
Jonathan thought about this… his parents send him a message the evening before that they won't say anything about the photo without his permission… so that was the reason Superman wasn't giving a statement: They wanted to talk with Jonathan about that before. And as he was in Metropolis now and blocking their calls, they couldn't publish anything. So, Jonathan was the true reason the world got no answers. For some reasons it bothered him to let the people wait. Otherwise, he was glad that his parents respected his opinion. Even if it meant to let billions of people in the dark.
In TV, the camera zoomed closer to the anchorman again…
"We have asked people in Metropolis about their opinion!"
The picture changed to a big, crowded square in Metropolis with a lot of people walking around.
A businessman on the way to work…
"Superman lives on Earth so long; I wouldn't be surprised if he fell in love with a woman and made a baby with her. I mean he is a man."
A teenager on the way to school…
"It is weird to think about it. Superman has a son around my age. He could be someone who goes to my school. Sounds cool to have a dad who gives you flying lessons…"
"I never got flying-lessons you fool!" Jonathan yelled annoyed.
A woman, selling flowers in front of a shop…
"I am a mother of a teenager, too. It scares me honestly a little bit that a superpowered teenager walks around and could be in my son's school, too."
A man from the city cleaning service…
"We wouldn't be alive if Superman wouldn't be. Maybe he got a son to have someone to teach to be a hero. Or he wants to retire one day and prepares him to replace him when it is time. Honestly, we all know that we need Superman to safe us. He does not live forever, too."
An elder woman sitting on a bench in the park…
"This is scary and disgusting! He is an alien! And he got a child with a human. So what is the child? Is he an alien, too? Or a human?"
A young man was next…
"I think it's cool! Superboy is no longer a legend! There was a rumor about a second Kryptonian circulating for longer. Maybe Superman only waits for the right moment to introduce him to the world."
Another elder woman…
"Superman is a very good role model. He stands for so many good things. If he raised his son with the same high moral values, he stands for, we can expect a lot of good things from Superboy."
"See! The people love you!" Timmy said encouragingly. Jonathan only gave his friend a death-glare that let a cold shiver ran down Timmy's back… Not all statements were positive.
Back in the studio, the anchorman was smiling…
"Superboy! The name has been prevailed in public like it has always been present. But what status does Superman's son have? I am talking now with Tyler Cavill, lawyer for immigration law, in Metropolis. Good afternoon, Mr. Cavill!"
"Good afternoon!" a man said who was blended in into the screen and got interviewed via Skype. Sitting in front of a full bookshelf with an American flag standing behind him.
"Mr. Cavill, you are an expert for international immigration law! What is Superman's legal status as someone who was born on another planet?"
"Superman does have no legal status in any country of the world. As Superman is only a title. The human identity, he supposedly has looks different."
"Can you explain us?"
"Well, before Superman first appeared, nobody on Earth even dared to think that aliens are real. And with Superman there was suddenly a literal alien living on Earth. Of course, there were a lot of political discussions about Superman and his citizenship. Nobody knows where Superman lives! He could live in Metropolis, what many people assume. He could live in a cabin in a jungle. Or on an uninhabited island in the middle of the ocean, far away from any country in the world…"
Jonathan flinched briefly after that sentence. It was like he was talking about the fortress.
"…but after seeing the many good things, Superman has done for the world, many governments in the world have added special laws in their systems, that would grant Superman, under his real name, the legal citizenship of their country. The United-States have added a certain law, too in 2010!"
"That means, Superman is an American citizen?"
"He would be! If it turns out that he is living in the United States and uses a human identity. Superman has never avowed himself to a certain country or told the world in which country he used to grow up. For his supposed son and his other children meanwhile, if he has, it is easier. For example… If Superman landed on Earth as a baby and was legally adopted by an American couple, and has a human identity, he has legally granted the American citizenship. Irrespective of the fact that he wasn't born on Earth. His children, if their mother is American and if they are born in the United States are therefor American citizens, too. And American laws see no way to deport them. Especially not to a place, that isn't existing anymore."
"Thank you for your statement, Mr. Cavill!" the anchorman said while the camera moved back to him, and the lawyer was blended out from the background. "We tried to contact Lois Lane, who had been the very first person ever to interview Superman. Ms. Lane herself has given following statement…"
Suddenly Jonathan was upset…
The picture in TV changed to an animated letter and a box appearing with the E-Mail his mother wrote being read…
"…I didn't have any clue about Superman having a son and I am not making any assumptions! I know him in person, but questions about his personal life or private things, were always avoided by him at any cost…"
The picture changed to the famous interview; Jon's parents filmed 20 years ago…
"Hey look! Your mom and… ehm… Superman!" Timmy almost said, 'your dad'. But avoided it.
"Lois Lane has often been referred as a friend of Superman who knows more about the man of steel than everyone else. Rumors came up, that she is even aware of things, no one else knows…" the reporters voice continued.
The picture changed to Lois…
Lois Lane/ Reporter, Interview from October 22 nd, 2012
"Many people think they should ask me for Superman's phone-number, or his private address. But I know not more about him than anyone else."
Then the picture changed back to Lois' E-Mail…
"…Superman usually gives statements when he is certain to know what to tell the public. Probably Superman waits for the right moment, or is already preparing for it…"
Back to the studio…
"Many open questions! No clear answers! The euphoria about Superman's supposed son is unbroken. As soon as we get more answers on Superboy, we will inform you. Here on RBS! Until then, we must wait for Superman's statement…"
As if on cue, Jonathan's smartphone beeped. He got a message from his mom: 'We don't do this without your permission.'
Jonathan was surprised. A rule in their family was that they never write something obvious or suspicious in a messenger-app. Only in emergencies and then they must delete the whole chat to prevent that anyone ever reads it. Obviously, it was one of those moments, they had to.
'What do you mean?'
'You are involved in this! This is about you! We handle this not without your opinion.'
Jonathan thought about it. He was used to his parents making all decisions about him without asking him. And not asking him what he thinks about. Otherwise, this time it was really about him. It was him on the photo. And it was him, the whole world celebrated as Superboy…
"Jon, how are you?" Timmy asked.
"Aww… You know… I expected something like this happen one day. But I always thought it will be Jordan who is referred as Superboy in public. And not me! I expected to sit with my brother one day in front of the TV and that he will be the one who needs some encouraging…"
"Was it so bad? Come on… the people love you…" Timmy said encouragingly. He already knew that Jonathan needs a hug.
Jonathan's smartphone beeped again. He got a message from Jordan: 'Congratz, bro! They love you! No need to be sad!'
'Do you listen to me again?' Jonathan wrote back. How else Jordan should knew that he is sad now.
'Just telling you!'
'If this was you, you would be mad, too!'
'And you would be the one who cheers me up! Just one time, let me allow to cheer you up!'
'Thank you! Tell…' Jonathan was not sure what to write. '…Mom and Dad, that I will call them!'
Jonathan looked threw his other chats. Natalie, Sarah, John-Henry, Mrs. Cushing and Ms. Beppo all asked him how he is. Then came more messages from his parents. Telling him to call back, no matter which time. And no matter if he needs something or just wants to talk.
Jonathan wondered if it was true. Is his family really caring for him? Or just because he is going to develop powers in the near future? Everything was so confusing and so unclear… Jonathan really wanted just to forget again…
But he had to agree that the fact that his parents were really fighting for him, felt better than his brief floating in the fortress two days ago…
This story was some kind of filler-episode! I hope you enjoyed it.
The next part will be about the Kent-family again and about their attempts to solve their issues. Hope to see you again!