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John Henry makes a few minute modifications to the missile in his hands, only half paying attention to the information the AI is telling him as he screws the red solar energy capsule on the top and places the missile on the table scanner, more focused on the conversation that he just had, the information that he just learned.
And his own response to that desperate plea.
I can’t watch him kill you again... Not if there is something I can do about it.
“-I don’t want any more surprises.”
“Of course not, Sir.”
“And give me a readout of the topography, I want to see if-”
The clinking of shoes on the metal grating catches his attention, the tread too light to be Sam’s. He’s proven right when he turns around and sees a young man, blonde haired and bright blue eyes, a familiar determined tilt to his jaw that sends a pang through John Henry’s chest even as he sticks his hands in his pockets in an attempt to appear unaffected.
The kid takes a deep breath before asking, “Do you know who I am?”
“I can make a pretty good guess.”
After all, even if he didn’t have his mother’s stubborn chin tilt, how many teenagers would be allowed on the D.O.D property without being behind bars?
“Name’s Jonathan. Jonathan Kent.”
Lois’ son.
Lois and Superman’s son.
Unfortunately, John Henry doesn’t have time to respond, because the kid - Jonathan - continues.
“When you were at the D.O.D, your RV was parked at our farm. I saw a lot of videos about you there. I saw- I saw what happened to my Mom. I saw how my Dad was. I saw... I saw a lot about you too.”
John stays silent, wondering where this is going. There is a direction he expects, some sort of pleading from the kid, but Jonathan just looks more determined as he goes on.
“I even saw things about your daughter. Natalie.”
I love you, Daddy.
Don’t worry, bug. I’ll be back before you know it.
The pain that slices through his chest is familiar now, for all the agony that he swallows down as he watches Jonathan pause before speaking again.
“You seemed like a really good dad.”
It’s now that Jonathan starts to break, lip trembling and voice cracking in places as he pushes through the last of his little speech.
“I just want you to know... this guy that you’re about to kill? He’s a really good dad, too.”
It’s not fair, the way that pulls at him; the heartbroken tone in this kid’s voice, the way that John Henry knows that Jonathan feels like he’s talking to a wall, but still determined to try.
To save his father.
“I wish there was another way, son.”
A bit of steel enters the boy’s gaze, reminding John Henry of all the times Lois found the piece of the puzzle that busted a case wide open, her indignation when she was pushed aside due to everything from not being in the field long enough, to who she was and what she was.
“There’s always another way.”
Swallowing, John Henry doesn’t say anything to that.
He can’t.
After all, didn’t Natalie and he find another way to survive after Lois was taken from them?
Didn’t they find another way to fight Superman when their supply of Kryptonite was proven to be ineffective?
Didn’t he also find another way when his anger almost had him killing in cold blood, barely pulling himself from the brink of that dark void?
Jonathan nods once, swallows, and then turns on his heel to leave. No more words, no more desperate speeches.
Just a worried, scared boy asking for someone to believe in his father.
To help him come back from his own dark pit.
John Henry isn’t sure how long he stares after the boy, only knows that he is startled out of his stupor when his AI tells him that all preparations are complete and that they need to get moving if they are going to have any chance of finding Superman before there are civilian casualties.
Rubbing a hand over his face and cursing, John Henry grabs the missile and goes to get suited up.