Part Three: Forgive Me if I Slip Away
They'd installed a door chime for Jason's protection when they moved into the house, knowing that living on the water held drowning risks for small children and they'd need to know if he ever went through the door. Being the middle of the night, Richard was surprised to hear it now, but thought it might be worth checking on for safety's sake.
Standing just inside the French doors, Richard watched Lois walk to a spot in the backyard, starting to pull out a cigarette, only to put it away again. He knew she was still upset about Superman being so near death, which only cemented in his mind what he'd suspected. She had been different since the hero had returned after being gone for so long, and Richard didn't believe her when she said she didn't ever love him. It was written all over her face, on her sagging shoulders and sad eyes, and laced throughout the desperation in her voice on the plane after they'd saved him. She'd once loved Superman with everything in her, and he suspected she still did.
As if conjured up by his own imagination, Superman drifted from above their house and hovered over the water. Richard half-smiled when he heard Jason yell out his "goodnight" to the hero he'd admired so much, and then realized the truth that he was speaking to his real father. Superman and Lois carried on a very short conversation that Richard couldn't hear, lest he open the door and make his presence known, and then he flew away. Richard watched as Lois' eyes followed him out of sight, ending with a smile at her son, and then slowly made her way inside. Richard didn't try to hide.
It's him, isn't it? He asked as soon as she stepped inside and closed the door behind her.
Yeah, that was Superman, she smiled as if relieved, pointing over her shoulder to the outside. He's better now.
He's Jason's father. He wasn't mad – he just wanted her to confirm it, but Lois bit her lip and tried to leave the room. But he wasn't done. You still love him, don't you?
Lois tried to leave the room and avoid his questions, but he just kept making his assumptions, until finally, he offered to leave to give her the room she needed to tell Jason the truth. Richard swore that he'd be fine since he idolized Superman so much, but she convinced him not to do anything drastic.
We'll all sit down and figure out something together, she suggested, and it was only then, when she'd admitted that he was speaking the truth, that Richard gave in.
That was a conversation he was looking forward to witnessing, but he doubted it would end with him still a part of Lois' family. More than anything, he wanted her to be happy, and he knew from her behavior since Superman returned that she could never love him the same way she did the man in blue. And Jason deserved to know his real father. Richard was sure he'd just be in the way from now on.