Well, he called it — two weeks of going to school and straight back after the whole Riddler thing, and Jon still couldn't take how boring it all was. Yeah, he pretty much deserved getting grounded even further for a month, especially after toppling down a Stagg Industries building while his short-lived clone tried to rip him to shreds. But even then, it was still tough to swallow down that he missed fighting crime, being an actual hero with Robin, even if it was just the one time. Jon even caught himself holding on to the remaining pieces of his costume, knowing that if he even attempted to make a new one that his parents would catch on like that — the downside of having a dad with super senses (and honestly, maybe his mom too).

The clock with the cat face read six twenty in the afternoon in the silent dining room where the Kents were seated, enjoying their leftovers from yesterday. Jonathan was just poking at his food with a bored expression on his face, unaware that his parents were having a war with their eyes on who would be the one to point it out.

It seemed like Lois was the loser as she perked up after clearing her throat, "So, Jonny — how was school today? I heard the Daily Planet is giving a few kids from Journalism Club a look around. Isn't that awesome?"

Jon just shrugged as he prodded his food again. "Eh, I guess — I wasn't picked anyway. They said having both of my parents working there meant it wouldn't be fair on others."

"Oh… well, anything else happened?"

"Nope."

Lois stared over at Clark who gave her a look back, engaging again in their optic war that Clark came out triumphant again. "Look, honey," did Lois continue, setting down her knife and fork, "I know that you're feeling like what's happening to you isn't fair and that we're being too harsh. But you gotta understand — we just couldn't let you off the hook after all of that."

"I… I know, Mom," sighed Jon before whispering quietly under his breath, "but it was the best night of my life…"

Funny how he'd forget that he wasn't the only one with super hearing at the table. He briefly looked over to his dad returning a sympathetic look until suddenly a sharp noise pierced Jon's ears. Ah, this again — he quickly cupped both his ears as his mother worryingly asked him what was wrong.

"It's — it's just another overload," groaned Jon before standing up. "Uh, can I be excused, please? I'm sorry."

He then immediately rushed to his room, wincing at all the sounds of heartbeats from the neighbours, blood flowing within veins, insects and birds flapping their wings outside all being multiplied to extreme levels. These sensory overloads had been the bane of his existence for as long as Jon could remember. They had gotten less frequent the older he got but he was still weary of them, feeling that they'd never fully disappear.

Eventually did it all calm down, now just hearing the faint ticks of his Wonder Woman clock in the corner of his room. Thank goodness. Jon just stared up to the ceiling before reaching under his bed to pluck out the stringy remains of his cape, still able to smell the rubble that he was trapped underneath before he flew for the first time. He could actually fly now and even then, he still hadn't told his parents yet. Not like anything would even change. Man, what he would give to go back to that night to put on his costume for the first time…

Three knocks on the door. "Can I come in?" Jon quickly stashed his cape back under and responded to his dad's voice to let him in. At first did Clark poke his head through the door before stepping in with an old teddy bear that had a red cape.

Jon shook his head, mumbling with his head in his hands, "Dad, I'm not a little kid anymore — Mr K-Bear looks like he's about to fall apart."

"I mean, you only stopped using him two years ago. Guess I could put him back to storage…" Clark trailed off before grinning at Jon quickly taking the bear and carefully propping him on the shelf. He then gazed around his son characteristically chaotic room before seating himself on the bed with a loud creak. "Is it okay if we talk, son?"

Jon nodded and sat down as well.

"Your mom and I — we know that we're not at home as much as before to be around. And that since you're young with your powers growing, there's a desire to use them especially when we're not around. It's natural, I get it; it was the same with me at your age. But this world that you see out there, Jon? It's dangerous and unforgiving. Seeing your powers go in and out of flux, well… that's also quite scary to us."

"But I still wanna help people," Jon protested, pushing his glasses up his nose. "If I'm not allowed or ready now, then I won't be ready tomorrow or ever. It'll be pointless having these powers if I can't help anyone with them, Dad!"

Clark went silent, closing his eyes before releasing a breath withheld deeply. He then began to reveal, "There's a reason why we're so protective of you, even when you're stronger than most boys and girls your age. When… when you were young, not even three, a bandit from space had kidnapped you when we lived in Smallville, right from your mother's hands."

"Wh-what…?"

"Lobo — we fought and he caught me off guard. Those… those were the three worst days of my life, of our lives, Jon. Your mom didn't sleep or eat until I found you and made sure to let him know that you were off limits," Clark added a little darkly, shocking Jon to see him speak this way. "It's the reason why your mother never liked you being so far away from her, why she barely goes out of the city for her job if you're not around."

Jon looked down on his lap and muttered, "I… I guess I kinda understand why now. That sounds so scary — I don't even know how I can't remember…"

"No child should ever remember something like that." Clark then placed a strong hand on his son's shoulder and continued to say, "Jonathan, you're a good kid, a great kid. And I know that one day, you'll be an amazing hero. Your time will come, whether it's sooner or later — you just have to be patient, that's all. You'll know when that time will come, I'm certain. Until then, no more scaring your mom, okay?"

"Okay," Jon laughed a little, feeling his dad wrap his massive arms around him in a hug before he stood up to leave the room. All this time he thought his mom was just being a helicopter parent when really there was a chance she'd never see him again. One day he'll prove to her that he was strong enough. Sooner or later, he'll show them all.