Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"You're saying all we have are mild concussions?" Jonathan asked.

"You were both very lucky," Clark said, doing his best to ignore how Lois' eyes were staring into him.

She was thinking exactly what he was.

One of the twins, perhaps both of them, was like him. The fact they were not more severely hurt. . . . It was the only explanation.

Clark glanced at her, finding her expression determined but wary. Their eyes met.

He pursed his lips as his thoughts continued to spin. There was so much to say, but a look between them could express a conversation.

His eyes answered hers.

After tonight, things would never be the same.

It was time.

"Little rest, should be fine," the paramedic said, pulling Clark from their silent conversation and his inner panic.

"Thanks, Benny," Clark said, standing up as the ambulance crew finished packing.

"Anytime. I'm sorry for your loss," Benny said, and he meant it.

So many had loved his mom.

"Thanks," Clark said, walking Benny and his team to the front door.

All too soon, the door closed and Clark knew he couldn't postpone what was coming. What he needed to do.

His pulse roared in his ears.

Clark looked at Lois and quickly received her calm, encouraging nod.

He was both terrified and heartened.

How would they take this?

Would they accept it? Accept him? How would Jordan take it? Honestly, he was most concerned about how this might impact Jordan's anxiety.

But hiding the truth now. . . .

Just thinking about continuing the secret after tonight screamed future disaster. If he thought his relationship was rough with his sons before today, how much worse would it become if they eventually learned the truth after this point?

No. It was time. Likely long past time.

No more secrets.

Soon, there would be no more hiding.

The tension in his shoulders eased.

After tonight, he would be allowed to fully be himself around his whole family, not just Lois. No more worrying about how he would explain his most recent disappearance. How he would have to grit out a lie explaining why he missed another important event or gathering. They would know and, hopefully, they would understand.

And. . . .

He'd be able to take them to the Fortress and introduce his father to them. Their grandfather. He could tell them about Krypton, and show them their family history. He could share everything and impart what was also theirs. After all, he wasn't the last El.

He blinked, suddenly aware of tears gathering in his eyes.

"Dad, we're sorry," Jon said earnestly.

"We only wanted to fix the wifi. We didn't mean for anything to happen, Dad. We're sorry!" Jordan clasped his hands together, anxious and at a loss.

"But we're okay. Like they said, nothing major," Jon added, trying to reassure him.

Clark shook his head, trying to collect himself as he wiped away his tears.

Jon and Jordan panned their attention to Lois, both clearly bewildered and more than a little concerned. Lois silently sat down in the chair nearest Jordan.

"Boys, I have. . . ." Clark began, only for his throat to seize up with emotion.

Why was this so hard?

He took in a shuddering, deep breath and went forward, sitting back down on the couch beside Jon who was next to Jordan. Processing his next words, he looked at them.

His and Lois' miracles.

"What?" Jon and Jordan both said.

Twin stereos.

"Dad has something he wants to tell you," Lois gently said, giving Clark a bit more time.

Clark nodded and took another deep breath, this one more successful in calming him.

Jon and Jordan shot each other a look, wary, before looking back at Clark.

"You weren't just lucky," he managed, forcing his voice to work. "At least, I don't think it was just luck."

"What do you mean, Dad?" Jon asked.

"We haven't been sure when to tell you . . . my secret. Well, our family secret. It's really big, one not for kids really, but you two are no longer little kids, and after what's happened. . . ." He glanced at Lois.

"Boys, this is the biggest secret on Earth. It's a huge responsibility to know it, but–" Lois put in.

"It's time you two know," Clark finished. "The thing is . . . I'm not from here."

"'Here' as in Smallville?" Jordan asked, confused.

Clark shook his head.

"Just listen, honey. It'll be clear soon," Lois promised.

"I came to Earth as a baby," Clark said.

Jon and Jordan blinked, baffled.

"My ship crashed in the cornfields behind the house. I was sent here when my planet . . . Krypton was destroyed."

"Krypton?" Jon whispered, astounded.

"Yes. And your grandparents, they took me in. They raised me. And because I wasn’t from here, I had certain . . . powers. They taught me how to control my abilities – how to blend in – until the day I was ready to leave and become who I was sent here to be," he said, hoping he didn't sound as overwhelmed as he felt.

"You’re saying you’re Superman?" Jon breathed in disbelief.

"When your father first told me, I didn’t understand it either," Lois admitted.

Jordan’s eyes were wide before he frowned, confused. "But you fall off of ladders."

Clark blushed and rubbed the back of his neck. "It's sometimes easier to just let gravity take over. And since it helps hide me. . . ."

"You'll have to show them something, Clark," Lois prompted.

"Okay, what power do you want to see?" Clark asked them.

"Heat vision!" Jordan answered, clearly deciding that one was the hardest to fake.
"Strength!" Jon said, leaning forward.

Clark smiled nervously and took off his glasses, setting them on the coffee table. "Alright."

He got up and walked to Lois before leaning down. He took hold of the front leg of her chair and stood up, hoisting it and her up with one arm as he let his eyes glow red with his power, though he released no beam.

"Holy Shhh…..oot!" Jon exclaimed, jumping up as Jordan pushed back against the couch with a shout, just as astonished and admittedly alarmed.

Clark quickly extinguished the glowing red in and around his eyes and put Lois and the chair down.

"Sorry! I didn't mean to freak you two out," Clark said, lifting his hands.

"You really are Superman," Jordan whispered.

Clark nodded sheepishly.

"I can't believe it," Jon said, staring at him.

"It . . . makes sense though," Jordan said after a long moment, though still staring at him with wide eyes. "All the excuses. All the times you were gone."

Clark nodded again, this time sad and apologetic.

"You were out . . . saving people," Jon said, his eyes widening in realization.

"Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Jordan asked.

"Yeah? I mean, I get not saying anything when we were little, but. . . . Did you not trust us?" Jon asked.

Clark went and sat on the coffee table so he could face and be level with them both. "It's not about trust. At least, it hasn't really been about that for a few years. It's about the burden. This isn't an easy secret to keep. It makes you . . . have to lie."

Lois nodded. "We didn’t want you two to have to worry about this aspect of our lives sooner than necessary, but we also didn’t want to hide it from you for too long. Powers or not, you have a heritage you deserve to know about. So we had decided a long time ago that we would tell you one day. We just . . . didn't know when."

"So, why now? Is it because. . . ." Jon trailed off and looked at Jordan.

"The only way that both of you survived that accident is for one or both of you to at least be a little like me," Clark stated. "Hiding that truth from you after that would have been wrong and . . . dangerous."

"Who do you think . . . ?" Jordan asked anxiously.

"I don't know. Like I said, could be both, but even if it's just one of you, the fact remains that you both need to know now and . . . you should know, powers or not, you're still half-kryptonian. And . . . our people, when on Krypton, didn't have superpowers," Clark said.

Jordan straightened. "Oh yeah, the powers come from the yellow sun."

Clark nodded before smiling. "I have so much I want to show and teach you both. And I can't wait to introduce my father to you."

Jon and Jordan’s eyes widened once more, though this time in excitement and not merely shock.

“Your father?!" they asked.

"Clark," Lois said pointedly.

"But that can wait. It's late and you probably shouldn't be flown anywhere right after getting a concussion anyway," Clark said, quickly back-peddling.

"Dad! You can't just say something like that and not explain!" Jon complained.

"Oh, sorry. My father, Jor-El – who, by the way, you're named after, Jordan – is . . . well, I'll be introducing you to the A.I. hologram of him. He's not technically my father, you see, but he has all of his memories and was the one who taught me after I left Smallville, so even though he's not alive, he sorta is?"

Jon and Jordan blinked.

"Dad, that just gave us more questions," Jon pointed out.

"I'm named after your father?" Jordan asked, amazed.

"Yeah. Just like Jon is named after my dad. Your mother and I liked the idea of you both being namesakes of the men who made me me," Clark explained. "You already know a fair amount about my dad, Jonathan, but Jor-El was a head scientist on Krypton. With help from my mother, Lara, he crafted the ship that brought me here and programmed the ship's navigation system. He was also the one who discovered Krypton's core was becoming unstable and warned the Council – not that they listened."

Jordan looked down, overwhelmed.

"Jordan?" Clark asked, confused.

Jordan looked up and tried to force down the tears.

"Jordan, what's wrong?!" Clark moved to reach out, but hesitated. He didn't want to make things worse. Sometimes Jordan didn't react well to touch. His touch, anyway.

"I don't know," Jordan sniffled.

"This is a lot to take in," Lois said calmly. "It's going to take some time to really process."

Jordan shook his head. "I always thought I was a nobody, the weakling, but now I'm suddenly . . ." He made frantic motions with his hands. "I'm named after Superman’s dad! I'm not good enough for that! I'm on pills, for crying out loud!"

"Jordan!" Clark cried, horrified. "You're not a weakling! And it's not about being good enough or not. I don't expect you to be anything more than who you are, my son. As long as you do your best and are a better Jordan than Jordan of last year, that is plenty, and you are! I know I haven’t been around as much as you needed, as either of you needed, but I've seen how much you've both worked through things, often without me." Clark took a chance and gripped Jordan’s shoulder and then gripped Jon's as well. "I'm sorry. I convinced myself that you two would be fine and that it was okay for me to be gone so much, but . . . I was wrong."

"Dad," Jon said softly, his eyes wide.

"When I entered the barn and looked through the poles and saw . . . I have never been more scared." He pulled them into a bearhug, the scene so raw in his heart that he felt tears burn behind his eyes. He took in a shuddering breath as Jon and Jordan both fervently returned the hug. "Things are going to be different now. I promise I'll be a better dad than I have been."

He pulled back after a moment and Jon and Jordan both nodded their understanding.

"Tomorrow, I'll take you to the Fortress, okay?" Clark said.

"Okay!" they both agreed, thrilled.

"And we'll really get to fly?!" Jon asked.

Clark beamed. "Yeah, I'll fly you there. It's really the only way."

"Where is it, anyway?" Jordan asked.

"The Arctic, so dress warmly tomorrow morning," Clark said, standing up.

The twins looked at Lois, as if seeking verification.

She smirked, amused. "Head to bed, boys."

_____________

Chapter Text

Jon and Jordan joined their father out on the front porch, trying not to feel too silly about wearing winter jackets when the morning was pleasantly warm. Lois stepped out last, happy.

“Ready?” Clark asked.

“Uh, yeah,” Jordan said, though he looked confused.

“Are you . . . I mean, are you going to fly us there like that?” Jon asked before blushing. “I mean. . . .”

Lois smiled. “He doesn’t need his uniform to fly.”

“Oh. I mean, of course he doesn’t. I, uh, nevermind,” Jon said as Jordan bumped his shoulder teasingly.

“Do you want me to wear it?” Clark asked, a little amused.

“Uh. I was just curious,” Jon admitted.

Clark chuckled. “One moment,” he said, before disappearing and reappearing in a blink, his cape settling behind him.

“Whoa.” Jordan and Jon both gaped.

“I know it’s a little weird at first, but you’ll get used to it,” Lois said before looking at Clark. “Back before dinner?”

He nodded as he stepped between Jon and Jordan. “Hold on,” Superman said, wrapping an arm around each of them. He then beamed at Lois and shot up a moment later.

They flew through the sky faster than either had imagined possible, and the strangest part was the lack of nausea. Instead, a comfortable sensation settled around them, buffering them against the wind and acceleration, allowing them to see the world pass by without discomfort.

And then they landed in what their father appropriately called: the Fortress of Solitude.

Jon and Jordan looked around in wonder.

"This makes all those snow forts we made as little kids look like frozen ant hills," Jon said.

"Did you make this?" Jordan asked.

"No. This did," Clark said, holding out a red shard.

"What is that?" Jordan asked.

"It’s a sunstone crystal. Think of it as a computer drive that contains the entire history of Krypton. It also holds the AI of my father and is capable of creating and programming other crystals if given the correct resources," Clark said, walking deeper into the ice structure.

"Sounds like magic," Jordan commented.

Clark chuckled. "Well, it's true what they say, 'any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic'.

"And we'll get to learn about it all?" Jon asked, growing excited at the thought.

"Yes, but you'll first need to have a good grasp on math and science."

Jon nodded slowly, frowning slightly as he thought about his most recent math scores.

Clark led them further in. "After my dad died, I felt pretty lost. I had a lot of questions about who I was, why I could do the things I could do. So I came here, found my answer." He plugged the sunstone crystal into the side of a lone podium in the middle of the chamber.

Suddenly, a blue, translucent man with graying hair appeared.

"This is your grandfather, Jor-El," Clark said proudly. "Father, this is Jonathan and Jordan."

"You brought your sons to me. Why?" the man asked.

"Because, unlike we thought, Father, at least one of them is manifesting abilities," Clark stated, gripping both of their shoulders. "I'd like you to scan them again and compare the results to the last scan."

"Very well, Kal-El, though you do understand it's unlikely anything has substantially changed," Jor-El said.

"Whether it has or not, I'm going to start their Kryptonian education. It's time they begin learning about this part of their heritage," Clark stated.

"If that is your wish," Jor-El said before looking at Jon and Jordan appraisingly. "Jonathan, please step forward here so I may scan you."

Jon did as instructed and soon after Jordan was scanned as well.

"It will take me an hour to analyze the results," Jor-El said.

Clark nodded and happily guided his sons back to the podium. "That's fine, we can start our first lesson." He pressed something on the ice surface and a holographic image of an elaborate city appeared. It was soon joined by Jor-El's voice.

"Your family history begins in Krypton’s second-largest city, Kryptonopolis."

Jon and Jordan stared in wonder.

The hour passed faster than any of them had expected and soon they were in front of Jor-El once more.

"I have completed my analysis. Compared to the first scan taken when they were three months old, there is an insignificant difference of photo-nucleic effect in both Jordan and Jonathan's current scans," Jor-El stated.

"Insignificant? How can that be? Whatever amount there is, it allowed them to survive several thousand pounds of metal poles landing on them," Clark pointed out.

"Their cells can only store minimal amounts of energy from the Sun. And while Jordan's cells appear to have slightly more than Jonathan's, the difference very well may be variance in the measurement collection and not actually present," Jor-El calmly said.

"We will test them again in a few months. I was four years old before any of my abilities began manifesting. Perhaps it is only a matter of time," Clark decided.

Jon and Jordan looked at each other in surprise before reflecting on what it could mean for them. Jor-El went on.

"We can, of course, though I believe there is no reason to do so. This has been a random occurrence. They’ll never have enough power to produce abilities on command. Their human DNA is just too limiting. I know–"

"Don't ever say their human DNA is limiting," Clark stated, cutting him off with a surprising amount of bite.

Jon and Jordan's eyes shot to their father in surprise. It was rare to hear him angry. Actually angry.

"I apologize, Kal-El," Jor-El said, briefly glancing at the twins before resuming. "As I have told you before, their existence is unprecedented. I am merely sharing my observations and conclusions."

"You had once said Kryptonians and Humans were incompatible," Clark pointed out.

"I did," Jor-El agreed simply.

"So you could have an incomplete picture here, like you had before," Clark supplied.

"That is possible, but the change in their photo-nucleic energy levels from the time they were infants to now is less than five percent, and two percent of that could be in the measuring variance. I simply do not want to misguide you into thinking that they will eventually become like you when it is highly likely that they will not," Jor-El said gently.

Clark shook his head. "I just want us to know as much as we can so we are better prepared for the future. If they develop powers, they'll be better prepared than I was and if they don't we at least know how different they are from humans."

Jon blinked and thought of something. "Uh, Dad, could I ask something?"

Clark quickly looked at him, grateful for the interruption. "Sure, bud. What is it?"

"Would energy have been used up in protecting us from the poles? Could we just be empty right now or something?" Jon asked.

Jor-El looked thoughtful. "That is possible, but the fact remains that there is very little difference in your cellular structures from when you were infants to today. And if you are, as you say, 'empty' right now, it would mean you require more exposure to the sun than your father to 'recharge'."

"Alright, so we will just check again in a few months and keep an eye on things. Boys, please let me know if you feel any different or if anything odd begins happening with your eyes or ears. Some powers are very uncomfortable when they first appear, at least they were for me, and they can get out of control."

"Really? What happened to you?" Jordan asked.

"Well, hearing, for example. That took me out of commission for a couple weeks. Hearing everything and not knowing how to block it. . . . It was really rough, let me tell you. Every power comes with its own burden and responsibilities. So, if either of you do end up developing any, remember that."

Jon and Jordan frowned.

"So superhearing hurts?" Jordan asked.

"And it took you out for weeks?" Jon asked, stunned.

"I was eight or so, and yeah, it hurt," Clark admitted. "That's why I want us watching this. I don't want either of you blindsided like I was."

Jon and Jordan nodded in serious agreement while realizing powers were not just cool things their dad could do.

_____________

They returned home later that afternoon and quickly updated Lois on everything they had learned, though Clark stepped out to handle some Superman business in the middle.

"It was really cool, Mom," Jordan said.

"Yeah, though Dad got upset with Jor-El for a moment," Jon commented.

"Oh?" she asked, though she didn't seem as surprised as they had expected.

"Jor-El said Human DNA is limiting," Jordan answered. "Dad didn't like that."

"Ah. Yeah. If you didn't already notice, Jor-El can be a bit . . . insensitive at times in regard to certain things. Your dad thinks it's a side effect of knowing so much and such on top of being an AI. Your dad also admitted to me that he thinks most Kryptonians had a superiority complex, which makes sense. They had extremely powerful and versatile technology, understood illness and disease to such a degree it was pretty much non-existent, and they had a grasp of science that makes our understanding look like an infant's. And they were using and expanding on that knowledge for several millennia before the end. All of that would make any race conceited and over confident.

"Unfortunately, it was this that led to Krypton only having one survivor: your father," Lois explained sadly.

Jon and Jordan glanced at each other, their eyes wide.

"That . . . explains a lot," Jon whispered.

"What do you mean?" Lois asked.

"I mean, Dad is always saying not to get too proud, not to get cocky," Jon explained.

"That's more because of how he was raised by your grandparents, but I imagine you're right that learning about what had happened to Krypton and why reinforced that," Lois agreed before they heard Clark land in the back.

Soon after, he walked into the kitchen, though he was more serious than before. "Your dad's coming up the driveway."

"That’s not good. Boys–" Lois began.

"We'll go out back," Jon quickly offered, knowing when his mom wanted them to make themselves scarce. And really, he wasn't too keen on their grandfather seeing them at the moment.

How much did he know? Knowing their granddad, he'd be able to tell something was up the moment he saw them. He didn't want to blow the secret right out of the gate.

They went out the back and headed into the fields to just chill. They had a lot to talk about anyway.

_____________

Sam knocked on the door and Clark answered it a blink after.

"Boys in town?" Sam asked. He did not want to risk them overhearing.

"They're out," Clark confirmed.

"Good." He followed Clark into the kitchen and opened his laptop as Lois came in. He got straight into it. "Had my team analyze security camera footage from both nuclear plants where the ruptures occurred, and this is the only commonality. Whatever did this, it’s moving fast." He clicked a few buttons, opening a different file and showing them. "That’s not all. We also discovered a sub-microscopic etching at both sites. Thought maybe it was a fingerprint at first. It wasn’t."

Clark leaned forward. "It’s Kryptonian. It says, 'You are not a hero, Kal-El.'" He shook his head. "Whoever did this knows a lot about me."

"He’s studying you, Clark. Now, I’m sure there’s a phone booth in this Podunk town where you can suit up," Sam advised.

"Now? No," Lois interrupted.

"Lois." Sam tried not to appear frustrated.

"I get it. There is a powerful something out there that doesn’t like Superman or nuclear power plants, and that is a bad combo. But now is not a moment Clark can just take off. His mom just died and there's a lot to figure out," Lois declared. She looked at Clark.

"She’s right, Sam," Clark said. "If there's an issue, you know how to call me, but right now, I need to be here. If you want me to be focused and such as Superman, I need to know things here are set."

Sam blinked. Push back was typical, but this was . . . odd.

"What’s going on?" Sam asked suspiciously.

Lois looked at Clark again before talking. Clark swallowed.

Sam mentally shook his head. For someone called the Man of Steel, he really wore his heart on his sleeve and made himself vulnerable.

"We learned some odd things concerning the mortgage and the bank. We need to look into it and make some decisions before we return to Metropolis," Lois said, stepping beside Clark and allowing him to wrap an arm around her.

Sam frowned. He doubted that was all, but he supposed Clark was right. If he wanted Superman at his best, he couldn't be distracted.

"Alright. Hopefully, this guy doesn't do anything more serious in the meantime. I hope you get whatever is going on squared away," Sam said, packing the laptop back up.

"Thanks, Sam," Clark said.

Sam nodded and headed out without a word.

_____________

"All my memories, my childhood, my parents. . . . They’re all here," Clark said as he flipped a chicken breast on the stove in their kitchen less than an hour after Sam had left. "Why would my mom want me to come home just to sell the farm?"

"I don’t think she wanted you to sell it," Lois stated.

She had just finished telling him everything she had learned at the bank and from Lana. The twins were playing videogames upstairs.

"I think she wanted you to save it," Lois concluded.

"How?" Clark asked. "You know, we’re not exactly flush with cash, especially after getting fired."

"I don’t know yet." Lois frowned. "But those reverse mortgages weren’t because the bank was feeling generous. You may have super strength and super hearing, but I have super smell, and those loans don’t smell right."

Clark nodded before giving her an amused look. "I do have supersmell, by the way. I just don’t use it very often, you know." He wrinkled his nose. "Not with two teenage boys in the house. Kinda gross."

She laughed as the twins entered the kitchen.

"Hey, we heard that!" Jon complained good-naturedly.

"How far can you smell?" Jordan asked curiously.

Clark slowly inhaled, before rubbing his nose. "Too far sometimes. Right now, if I let myself, I can smell the pig farm in the other county. But for pleasant smells, I can smell the underground water source at the Wellington Farm and the fresh bread from the German bakery in town. I could probably go further, but it's too difficult to sort out unless I really know exactly what I'm seeking."

"Like a bloodhound?!" Jon snickered.

Clark chuckled. "Yeah, I suppose so."

"Have you ever used superspell as Superman?" Jon asked.

"A few times, mainly when locating explosives. Smell helps show me where to look."

"Oh! So that's what you were doing that one time!" Lois exclaimed.

"What? When?" Clark asked, confused for a moment before he suddenly turned his head, his eyes distant.

"What?" Lois asked, knowing that look.

He heaved a sigh. "Another breach in progress. It’s another nuclear facility."

"Go," Lois said calmly.

Clark sighed and handed her the spatula before disappearing in a blink. Jon and Jordan both gaped.

Chapter Text

Superman landed at the nuclear facility. It was quiet and he suddenly knew this was a set up. There was no actual breach.

"I found your message. I know you’re here," Superman ventured.

"And I know you can’t see me," a voice answered.

Superman tried to look through the walls, but there was too much lead shielding.

"Lead encasements. You can’t see through lead. One of your few weaknesses," the man added helpfully.

"That’s why you’re choosing nuclear facilities. You can watch me without me knowing," Superman said, wanting to keep the man talking.

"And see how good you really are, Kal-El."

"How do you know my name?" Superman asked, still walking and doing his best to peer through the walls and locate the man.

"I know everything there is to know about the Last Son of Krypton. Where I come from, let’s just say the two of us have history."

"And where is that, exactly?" Superman asked, wondering if this man was being honest or if he was nuts. Granted, he could be both.

"Nowhere now. My world was destroyed. But somehow, I managed to survive. I eventually arrived here, where I learned you were here too."

A metallic form came into focus through the wall and Superman was happy for the gap of lead. Deciding to take this opportunity, he rushed through the walls separating them.

Only to come to a sudden stop as the man caught him and hoisted him up by the neck.

"Not as fast as I thought," the man calmly said, actually sounding disappointed.

He then tossed him away like he was nothing.

He landed hard against the concrete far beyond the building, rolling a few times before he stopped and looked up as the armored man shot into the sky.

Superman immediately pursued, chasing him part way around the world until they were weaving around skyscrapers. They scuffled briefly in the air and Superman crashed into a shop before leaping back into the air.

This guy was not only strong, he was fast.

Superman paused in orbit, trying to triangulate where the man now was as he extended his hearing. He heard him from behind and turned just as the suited man crashed into him. They tumbled through space, curving around the earth.

"Aren’t you curious how I know so much about you, Kal-El?" he asked as they struggled, flipping head over heels, weightless.

Superman tried to blast him off with pulses of heat vision and ice breath but failed. The man returned his efforts with a headbutt and several powerful punches.

"Like me, your home was destroyed." He grabbed Superman’s throat. "You were sent here as an infant, to a world where you’d spend your whole life trying to prove your worth, convince yourself you were one of them, but you’re not! You’re still that scared, lost child, desperate for the love of people who will never accept you!"

The man’s gloved hand pulled back, brandishing a green spike.

"And the only remnants of your real home – Kryptonite – make you sick."

The shard easily pierced into him, searing pain tearing through him worse than a hundred lightning strikes.

“Dust to dust, Superman,” the man stated, his voice devoid of all emotion save hate. And then he let go.

And Superman fell.

_____________

Isamu Sato wasn’t sure what he was seeing at first, but the moment he realized the growing red speck was actually rippling red fabric, he knew.

Superman.

But something was clearly wrong.

He was falling.

Falling straight down.

Isamu shouted and pointed up, attracting the attention of others on the street who quickly shared their own alarm and dismay. Bikes and vehicles screeched to a halt as more people took notice, screaming and pointing. Their shouts must have reached Superman because his rapid descent seemed to slow as his body rotated in the air, but it wasn't enough.

Superman struck the road arm and shoulder first, then head and the rest of him. Debris blasted up and the sound was horrendous as the concrete was instantly pulverized, creating a ten meter wide crater with Superman’s form at the center.

People in the area straight beneath his falling form had already run clear, which was beyond fortunate.

Isamu was one of the first to shake himself from his shock and run forward, dashing across the street and scrambling down the shallow crater. He stopped within arm's reach of Superman, who was laying limply on his side with his back facing him.

Was he alive?

Tentatively, Isamu went closer as a few others joined him in the hole and a crowd began to form around the rim. He touched Superman's shoulder. Superman stirred and Isamu knelt closer, at a loss but compelled to help as he gently turned him onto his back.

His eyes were immediately drawn to the left area of the famous S emblem. There was a green glowing circle approximately where he knew a human heart would be. Superman had been stabbed by something.

Was this kryptonite?

"Superman?" he asked, looking at his face.

Superman's breathing was raspy and pain was etched across his features.

"T-the shard," Superman grit out in flawless Japanese as their eyes met and Isamu was struck by the emotion within. Superman placed his hand near the green object barely protruding from his chest. "It's shattered inside me."

_____________

Nurses and doctors swarmed around him as soon as he was removed from the ambulance, and he bit back a cry when he was jostled by the stretcher going over a bump.

The top half of his uniform had already been removed, which had thankfully been
easier than he knew the paramedics had feared. If only the shard could be as easy.

It was still in his chest, the paramedics too nervous to remove it due to the circumstances. In this instance, he agreed that waiting for more skilled hands made sense.

Voices whirled around him. He knew he was fading in and out of consciousness.

"He said the kryptonite shard shattered inside of him!"

"Do X-rays work on him? What about MRIs? We need to see what we're dealing with!"

"I've called O.R.. Should we get him into pre-op?"

"The administrator is reaching out to the UN and US Embassy. Is that who we should call?"

Superman opened his eyes and lifted his hand, quickly getting their attention as they rolled him into a room and starting maneuvering equipment.

"The US DoD," Superman said, his breathing now quick pants as he forced himself to stay awake. "Pen?"

The closest nurse hurriedly held out her pen and clipboard for him. He jotted down the official, direct number for Sam, writing down his rank and name as well.

At the same time, someone placed an oxygen mask over his nose and mouth as a different nurse began connecting wires to the EKG stickers on his chest the paramedics had secured minutes before.

The nurse ran out with the board and contact information as soon as he began to lower the pen and looked up at her, signifying he was done.

"Superman, I'm Dr. Shibasaburō. I'm going to be your surgeon. We want to get you into surgery as soon as possible to remove these shards, but we don't know exactly where they are beyond this one," a doctor said, pointing to the still glowing piece barely protruding from his skin. "Will an x-ray work on you?" he asked as he looked at Superman’s heart rate.

"I'm denser than humans . . . so it'll need . . . to be set to . . . highest penetration or . . . you won't get an image." He closed his eyes for a few seconds and tried to catch his breath.

A moment later he felt the oxygen flow sharply increase. It helped a bit, though it was hard to tell due to the persistent razorblades of fire that flared at each breath. He was pretty sure his lung had been punctured.

"We'll get an image and then take you into the O.R., okay?" the doctor said. "Since kryptonite's radiation is toxic to you, I'd rather take out what we can than wait for extensive images."

Superman vehemently agreed as he fought back the black edging his vision. "You should know . . . I'll begin healing . . . as soon as it's out . . . I think. You won't . . . have much time . . . to get the rest."

The doctor nodded in grim understanding before a few other doctors arrived.

The following minutes passed quickly, and they successfully got a few chest x-rays after some initial difficulty. Fortunately, within that time, a direct line of communication with Superman’s medical team was established – thanks to General Lane's quick efforts.

Superman opened his eyes. Had he passed out?

"A General from the DoD wishes to speak to Superman before we begin," a close voice said.

"Very well, but we'll be starting soon."

"Superman? General Lane is asking to speak with you."

He accepted the phone, fumbling with it before someone quickly helped him.

"General," he managed through the mask and into the receiver.

"Superman, can you tell me what happened?" Sam asked, as direct as always.

"It was the same guy. . . . I caught him at . . . another Plant. He's in a metal suit. Hightech. It's pretty much . . . equal to me. He's from a parallel . . . world, I think. He hates me. It's personal to him. He thinks . . . he thinks I'm going to hurt . . . this Earth. I think his Earth's me . . . an evil me . . . destroyed . . . . . . Sam . . . that's how he knows . . . so much . . . ."

"Okay. Any idea where he is now?"

"He stabbed me . . . in orbit."

"So he could be anywhere," Sam finished for him. "Alright. We're flying a team out to you on our fastest jet now. So just hold on. Our entire military is on high alert, as well as our allies'. Did he say anything else?"

"No. Sam, have you called–?"

"Not yet. I will soon. You focus on holding on. I'll take care of the rest," Sam stated.

"Thanks," he said.

"Superman, we're going to take you back now. Okay?"

"Okay," Superman said before talking back into the phone. "I'll talk to you . . . later, General."

Hopefully, he would.

Hopefully he would return home. See his boys, see Lois again.

"Superman?"

It was so hard to breathe.

"We were told you prefer not to be . . . ?"

He looked over and saw Dr. Shibasaburō with his face hidden behind a surgical mask, his eyes uncertain. Several other doctors and nurses were assembled around his bed, ready.

"No restraints. They wouldn't help anyway," Superman said, relieved the doctors at the DoD had managed to outline things. "I'll be still."

"Alright," Dr. Shibasaburō said, "We'll do this as fast as we can. Would you like a countdown?"

Superman nodded and looked away in anticipation of the coming pain.

"In three," Dr. Shibasaburō said. "Three, two, one."

Superman felt metal against his skin and refused his desire to flinch away as he felt forceps grip and fresh pain ripple across already existing agony. Still, he gasped out, wordlessly pleading for it to be fast.

One of the doctors pulled the primary shard free in one go and relief poured in for a brief second before Dr. Shibasaburō's forceps went in.

He felt inner pulling interlaced with burning pain that stole his remaining breath away. The heart monitor blared in warning and he felt heat gather around his eyes as he bit back a scream.

He wasn't sure what was happening but he clenched his jaw as he used every ounce of his will to remain still and to not release his heat vision as he felt another fragment of poison leave him. And then he felt his awareness tilt as his chest tightened as if in a vice.

Darkness hardened around his vision and panicked but muffled voices and pounding hearts echoed in his ears.

Then, there was nothing.

_____________

"Mom!" Jon shouted. "Get in here!"

"It's Dad!" Jordan cried.

Lois rushed into the room, hearing their fear, and immediately took in what was on the television as she stopped between them.

'For those of you just joining us, we recently learned that Superman fell from the sky roughly thirty minutes ago in Japan. We don't know much yet, but videos capturing the event are going viral, one of which we will play now. Please, viewer discretion be advised,' the newscaster announced.

The scene was chaotic with people screaming, pointing, and running. The person holding the cellphone capturing it all was also moving, but was moving closer instead of away as they angled the lense up into the sky, above the city street.

A red and blue form, who could only be Superman, was plummeting to Earth and appeared to be completely limp. Two seconds later, he flailed before rotating in the air, but he was too late to halt his descent.

The crash shook the ground so hard a few people fell and pavement dust rushed up as a crater instantly appeared. In the center, Superman didn’t move.

"Clark!" Lois cried as she gripped Jon and Jordan.

People went forward and the view was blocked by dozens of people for a moment until the person with the phone lifted it up above the crowd as they moved. They got there as another man turned Superman over, revealing an ominous green circle glowing within his shield.

They couldn't understand what was being said, as everything spoken was in Japanese, but the paramedics soon arrived and loaded him up into the ambulance. He had looked lethargic, but at least he wasn’t unconscious.

Suddenly, Lois' phone rang. She answered it as soon as she saw who it was.

"Dad! How is he?!" she asked, moving away from the living room but still close enough to see the television.

Jon and Jordan fretfully did their best to overhear as the news station began to replay the footage.

"He just got out of surgery. Lois, the shard he was stabbed with . . . it shattered inside him when he landed."

Lois gasped and clutched the phone even tighter. "How bad?"

"The x-rays showed six primary pieces and then a dozen or so granules."

"His heart . . . ?"

"Intact. The surgeon managed to get the largest ones nearest his heart, but his body closed the wound before he could get the others."

"All the rest is still inside him?!" she cried.

Sam sighed. "Yes. They’ll have to wait until the surgical team from the DoD arrives with the special red lamps and kryptonite scalpels. I'm heading out in twenty."

"How long until the team gets there?" Lois asked.

"Late tonight."

Lois closed her eyes. "How big are the remaining shards? Is he awake?"

"Small. The size of wood pellets and smaller. And he's not awake. Not at the moment."

"What aren't you telling me?" Lois questioned, knowing when her dad was hedging.

Her dad took a long moment to answer. Finally, he did.

"His left lung was punctured and . . . he had what the doctors are sure was a heart attack on the operating table."

Lois released a shuddering breath. She was not going to lose it over the phone with her sons watching.

"His heart stabilized after they put him under sunlamps, but by then the wound had fully closed."

"What do the DoD doctors think? What are his chances?" she asked. "Be honest."

"I don't know, but they're very concerned. The fact kryptonite cauterizes, he's not bleeding internally, so that's good, especially with his lung, but obviously the kryptonite itself. . . . They have him in the sun and under the strongest sunlamps they have, but . . . his vitals are still thready."

"Could he be flown to Hawaii or something? Have the team meet him there? It would reduce the time by a few hours at least," Lois proposed,

"Transporting him is too risky. He'd be on a plane for eight or so hours. Both teams are concerned about a shard within hurting his heart or lung further. Lois . . . you need to prepare yourself. This is. . . . I'm sorry."

Lois closed her eyes and she felt Jon and Jordan come beside her anxiously.

"Call me if anything changes," she stated, lump in her throat.

"I will."

Chapter Text

The world waited anxiously for news about Superman. Unfortunately, every update they did receive was not good.

Of course, the spokesman at the hospital did not say much, but his bleak expression said more than enough.

Essentially, everyone had seen footage of Superman's fall and subsequent loading into the ambulance. Everyone knew he had been stabbed with the one substance on earth that could hurt him by a flying, armored man seen in the skies over Taiwan minutes before he had fallen in Japan. And they had been told pieces of the kryptonite were now trapped in him after the surgical team had gone in after weighing the risks. They had retrieved over 50% of the kryptonite, but unfortunately his body had healed too quickly, locking away the rest.

Superman’s condition was bad. His left lung had been punctured and he was suffering from kryptonite poisoning. They were running out of time. Superman was running out of time.

A special team from the States was currently on their way, but they were currently over five hours out.

‘Experts’ on less than classy news stations were quick to give their expertise, but it didn't take a genius to know being stabbed near the heart with a toxic substance was life threatening.

"He was stabbed in the second intercostal space, barely missing his heart," a talking head said.

"And he can't be transported, which tells me the remaining shards are dangerously close to major organs. They're afraid of killing him if they move him," another put in.

"The hospital administrator said he's conscious."

"From what I know of kryptonite, he might be better off unconscious."

Leslie Larr changed the channel, wondering what Morgan Edge, or rather Tal-Rho, would do. He had been gone for a while.

She trained her ears to the hospital in Japan, thousands of miles away.

"He's dying," a doctor said gravely. "Sure, getting out what we did gave him time, but it's not going to matter. He probably doesn't have two hours, let alone the five that he needs for the team to get here."

Broken, raspy breaths echoed in the room, joining rapid beeps from a heart monitor.

Leslie Larr supposed the plan didn’t need Kal-El, but she wondered . . . did Tal-Rho need Kal-El?

_____________

Dr. Shibasaburō looked at his deteriorating patient.

He was going in and out of consciousness but was surprisingly lucid when he was awake, like he was now.

His skin on his chest was marred by glowing green blotches and angry vines where his veins were being contaminated by the poison within him. They were branching up his neck now and the whites of his eyes had become tainted as well.

"I wish we could make you more comfortable," Shibasaburō lamented in Japanese. "You have given the Earth so much. I'm sorry."

Amazingly, Superman gave him a weak but gentle smile.

"Earth is my home," Superman answered faintly.

Shibasaburō was about to ask him if he wished to call anyone, but suddenly there was a loud bang and a whoosh, and a man seemingly materialized beside the bed, startling everyone in the room.

He was in a hooded, black trench coat, blocking the view of much of his face, but what had immediately drawn Shibasaburō's eyes was the shield emblem on his chest.

It was somewhat like Superman's 'S' but this man's 'S' was rotated, heavily slanted, and silver.

Most of his face remained shrouded beneath the darkness of the hood, so it was anyone's guess as to what he looked like, but his posture appeared grim as he stared down at Superman.

And then he shifted his stance and turned to Shibasaburō and the others in the room, his face still mostly hidden.

"Do not interfere," he ordered before looking back at Superman and speaking in a language Shibasaburō had never heard before. The man sounded apologetic.

Superman blinked at him, surprised and confused, but responded in the same language.

The man chuckled faintly as he carefully laid the bed back completely flat and detached everything from Superman except the oxygen mask.

Shibasaburō and the others looked at each other, unsure of what to do, when the man promptly leaned over Superman. He then braced his inner left forearm across both of Superman’s collarbones, gripping Superman’s bare shoulder with his left hand, and placed his right hand against the bottom of Superman’s ribcage. Superman was securely pinned down.

The man asked a question, still speaking the foreign language. He seemed to have asked Superman if he was ready.

Superman gasped out an answer as he nodded.

Shibasaburō wasn’t ready, and neither were the other medical professionals present when the unknown man’s eyes abruptly flared red beneath the hood, enveloped by pure power that lit up his eyes and surrounding skin. And then the relentless beams came down, right into Superman's chest.

Understandably, Superman screamed, his bellow shaking the walls of the hospital as he bent his legs and tilted his head back, but the man held fast and kept him down and his torso still.

The nurses screamed in terror and some of the doctors moved forward, though to do what Shibasaburō didn’t know.

Superman’s cry stuttered as the man’s dual beams shifted. The other doctors stopped their advance when they saw Superman bring his hand up and grip the man’s arm near his ribcage, but he didn’t try to remove it. He didn’t struggle against the man hurting him.

Superman grit back further screams, though tears were leaking from the corners of his eyes as the man continued sending down relentless focused beams of coursing red heat.

There was commotion in the hall but Shibasaburō couldn’t turn away from what was happening right in front of him.

The man spoke again, his voice holding a calm certainty as his heat vision narrowed, targeting the leftmost area of Superman's chest, likely within his lung.

Superman tightly clenched his jaw as he stared up at the ceiling, his eyes seemingly vacant as he did all he could to endure.

Finally, the red light receded and Superman went slack and gasped for breath, exhausted yet alive. The man straightened, but before anyone could say or do anything, he promptly sat Superman up before slinging Superman's limp arm over his black covered shoulders and stood, hoisting him from the bed to his feet.

Superman grunted in surprise, his chest now clear of green but glistening with raw, new skin as he struggled and failed to stand under his own power. The man supported him, and then disappeared with him out the window without a word.
_____________

They were living a nightmare.

Her father had just called her.

Clark was worse. The doctors feared help would not arrive in time.

She had turned the television off, but in the end she put it back on and sat between Jon and Jordan on the couch.

The news reports were bad, but the buzz on social media was worse and the twins definitely didn't need that; however, she also couldn't lock out the world completely. That would be just as bad. So the only thing she could really do was have them stay with her. They would wait and learn what was happening together.

"Mom, what if . . . ?" Jordan asked, tears in his eyes. "He can't. . . ."

"I know," Lois said, wishing she knew what to say.

She was afraid too and mentally going through dozens of scenarios, none of them pleasant.

What if he did die now?

After finally telling the twins the truth about himself, with so many unknowns for their future, and long before any child should lose their father.

She hugged the twins to herself as she sent a silent prayer before looking at the screen.

Countless reporters were assembled outside the hospital, along with wellwishers, desperate for another update. It was late afternoon there now, while for Lois and most of the US, it was very very early morning. Really, they should all be asleep.

Suddenly, from the television, a cry, wrought with agony, pierced through the air, alarming the assembled people at the front of the hospital and rocking Lois to her core.

"Clark," she choked.

The cry petered out, as if stifled, which only caused people to flounder over it more. Everyone instinctively knew who it had come from.

"Mom?" Jon asked, scared.

"I don't know. I'm sorry, I wish there was more I could say, something we could do instead of just waiting," she said, wiping away her own frustrated and scared tears. "Your grandfather will call us when he knows something."

After what felt like an eternity, her cellphone rang.

"I'm still getting information and I need to call some people as soon as I'm off with you. He left the hospital, or rather was taken. Someone we're assuming is a Kryptonian showed up, burned out the kryptonite with their heat vision, and then took him. That's all I know," Sam spouted.

"What?! So he's okay!? He healed!?" she asked, Jon and Jordan both listening intently.

"From what the doctors who were there are telling us, yes, though he's weak."

"And this person just took him?" Lois asked, both relieved and alarmed. “Did they say anything?”

"They spoke in a different language. We’re thinking it was Kryptonian. Superman didn’t resist.”

“That’s something at least,” Lois said, relieved in knowing that whatever was happening now was much better than how things had been going a few hours before.

“Call me if he shows up,” Sam said, before abruptly hanging up.
_____________

Tal-Rho landed in the courtyard of his villa in Italy and gently helped his brother lay down on the lawn chair overlooking the pool.

"Thank you," Kal-El said, taking a deep breath.

It was morning in Italy, with the sun’s rays making the pool glisten and his skin tingle.

“You should begin feeling better soon,” Tal said, doing a good job hiding his relief as he pushed back his hood.

What if he had been too late? He would have lost his brother, the whole reason why he had defied his father and altered everything.

And now he knew he had done the right thing. His father had been wrong about Kal-El. He was not weak. He had endured immeasurable pain, willingly, without question, to live. Tal hadn't even really needed to keep him still when he burned out the kryptonite.

Beside the pool, Kal-El quietly watched him, clearly curious but unsure of what to ask first. Finally, he decided on a question.

“Who are you?”

“My name is Tal-Rho, brother,” Tal answered, committing everything he could in the present moment to memory, relishing in the fact Kal-El, his little brother, was avidly listening to him. “And as hard as it may be to believe, I’m the son of Zeta-Rho and Lara Lor-Van.”

Kal tilted his head, and Tal knew he was wondering if he had heard wrong. “Brother?”

“I know how unlikely it may seem, but the two of us . . . we share the same Kryptonian blood,” he said, amazing himself by how level his voice was even though his heart was hammering away.

How long had he dreamt of this moment? How many times had he envisioned how his brother would react?

Countless times.

And now he would need to decide how much to share with his brother. How quickly he should tell him about his plans. Would his brother help him?

“That’s not possible. My mother. . . .” Kal began before trailing off and sitting up. He looked at Tal intensely.

Was he looking for something? Mentally comparing their features? Could he see how much they resembled each other? Or was there something instinctive telling him Tal was right?

Tal moved forward and sat down on the rock beside the pool so they would be eye level with one another.

“Our mother married Jor-El, your father, yes, but only years after she’d been matched to my father, and years after I was born. It was when she first warned that Krypton was dying. The very reason my father sent me here. I was the first son of Krypton to leave. . . .”

“Why didn’t you come to me? Why did you wait until now?” Kal asked.

Tal swallowed, knowing those questions had been inevitable.

“I landed in the British countryside, but I was not greeted. I was hunted.” Even now the memory affected him. He recalled the confusion and the fear. His pounding heart. “Trapped. And caught.”

Tal wanted to look away, and yet he wanted to see how his brother responded. Would he respond in pity? Anger? Denial?

Kal-El was still, his expression remaining attentive and yet. . . .

“I was kept hidden from the world for years. A piece of alien meat, an experiment for them to learn why I had abilities,” Tal said. "When I saw the chance to break free, I did. And later, when I learned of your existence. . . . Brother, there is so much to tell you."

“I’m glad you escaped. Are the people responsible . . . ?” Kal kept his eyes on his, and Tal was struck by the firm intensity within them. He wanted to know if the people were still a threat. A threat to Tal.

Tal was suddenly struck with the realization that for the first time in his life someone actually cared about his well-being. Cared enough to venture out an inquiry whose response might require true effort to address.

“They’re not around anymore,” Tal assured. “But thank you, brother.”

Kal nodded, his face contemplative. “I admit I’m finding all of this hard to fully wrap my head around, but assuming I’m not hallucinating and you’re real, I don’t understand why my father never mentioned . . . well, you. Surely he knew about you?”

Tal initially wanted to scoff at the idea of Jor-El actually caring enough to spare a thought about him, but then he was suddenly very curious as he realized something.

“You have a sunstone crystal as well?” Tal asked.

Kal nodded before growing thoughtful. “You know, why don’t we go talk to my father?”

Tal straightened, surprised.

His brother would just take him to his sanctum just like that? Though . . . maybe it was because he doubted him? But if he doubted him, wasn't taking him risky?

“If that is what you wish, brother,” he said amiably before quickly noting Kal’s attire.

He was still shirtless and wearing hospital garb.

“But first, why don’t you change into something presentable. You can take what you need from my wardrobe,” he offered, standing up.

Tal was a little taller than Kal, but everything should still fit well enough. Tal's heart swelled. They had a very similar build – because they were brothers.

“Oh. Okay,” Kal said, following him into his house.

Kal looked around. Tal smirked and inwardly basked in Kal’s obvious awe.

How did Kal live when he wasn't Superman? Something told him his life was not very extravagant.

“I have several homes like this around the world,” Tal stated.

“Wow.” Kal was impressed. “If you don’t mind me asking, what do you do? I mean, you must have some career.”

Tal laughed. “I’m a businessman, Kal. Surely you realize people of our talents can branch out and produce a lucrative income.”

Kal rubbed the back of his neck and chuckled uncertainly. “Yeah, I suppose.”

Tal tilted his head, confused, before shaking it off and picking out a casual but classy outfit comprised of light blues and browns. He also grabbed shoes and socks.

“Here you are, brother. And keep them.”

“Thank you.” Kal dressed quickly and soon they were back outside.

"What's wrong, Kal-El?" Tal asked as Kal looked up at the sky hesitantly.

"I just realized, it's probably not a good idea for me to fly right now. I still feel . . . a little winded," Kal admitted.

"Well then, I can fly us," Tal offered, trying not to appear too happy at the prospect.

This was going far better than he had ever imagined.

Kal looked at him, his expression unreadable. It was a blend of thoughtfulness and wonder, as well as something Tal could not place.

"What?" Tal asked.

"I don't know. So much has happened so quickly. A few hours ago, I was fighting to stay alive and now I'm in Italy with a brother I didn't even know existed. It's all really hard to believe, and yet, standing here, it doesn't feel so unbelievable. I don't know if I believe it all yet, but . . . I want to," Kal said.

Tal beamed. "Well, brother, believe it, because it's true."

Kal chuckled. "You sound like an older brother."

"Do I?" Tal asked, pleased beyond he could say.

"Yeah, you do," Kal said, amused.

"Good. Alright, shall we then?"

Kal nodded and stepped beside him, letting him grab hold of his arm, and then, with Kal's silent guidance, they headed north.

“The Arctic, brother?” Tal questioned, not sure if he should be appalled or amused as they landed on the snow and ice.

“I needed a place away from anyone who could find me,” Kal defended.

“I got that in the Badlands, but to each his own,” Tal said as they entered the inner chamber side by side.

Kal activated the podium and Jor-El materialized.

Tal couldn’t help but stiffen as so much emotion solidified in his chest upon seeing the man.

This was the man who had taken his mother away from him. Who had damned him to a life with his father, alone.

“Father,” Kal greeted happily, oblivious to the turmoil within Tal.

“Son, who have you brought here?” Jor-El asked, his voice neutral as his eyes took notice of the shield of Rho.

“Tal-Rho. He told me he is my half-brother,” Kal answered, watching his father closely, both curious and wary.

Tal didn’t blame him as he suddenly wondered how his own father would have reacted if he presented Kal-El to him with no forewarning.

Jor-El’s eyebrows rose, surprising Tal by his rather animated response. However, what truly took him aback was how excited his expression became.

“Tal-Rho? Oh, I wish Lara was here! She would be elated!” Jor-El declared.

“What?” Tal asked, rather baffled.

Kal was as well, which made Tal feel slightly better.

“How did you get here? Lara had tried to convince your father to send you away from Krypton before it was too late, but he refused!” Jor-El told him.

“What?” Tal asked again.

“Father? Is that why you never told me about him? You thought he was dead?” Kal asked.

“Yes. I saw no purpose in piling more grief upon you. To tell you you had lost a half-brother as well as an entire people would have given you nothing but more sorrow,” Jor-El answered before looking back at Tal. “Oh, how many nights Lara had wept for you, to see you now grown. . . . She had feared you were forever lost with that monster, afraid Zeta-Rho would–”

“Monster?” Kal asked, cutting Jor-El off.

Kal looked at Tal, alarmed.

Tal supposed there was no point in hiding it.

“My father was not a kind man. And pain was a weakness my father removed from me after I arrived here. He was another reason why I couldn’t reach out before.”

“Tal. . . .” Kal was speechless.

Tal turned away from him and looked at Jor-El, but he immediately wanted to look back at Kal. However, he found he couldn’t. The grief on Jor-El’s face struck him more deeply than his father’s harsh words ever had. And he didn't understand why, which disturbed him more.

“We tried to take you from him,” Jor-El stated after a moment. “When we first learned of your existence, Lara tried to appeal to the Council, but she was denied. A few weeks later, Lara devised a plan to take you, to sneak you out, but Zeta’s defenses were too strong and she was nearly caught. We tried again when you were older, but she was caught that time. Fortunately, she managed to convince Zeta that she had broken into his compound to talk to him, to warn him about the coming disaster. It was then she begged him to save you, to send you to safety. To Earth. In the end, she had to use her memory crystal to bargain for her own release.” Jor-El sighed, continuing to gaze at Tal-Rho.

“How I wish we had succeeded in taking you from that man. I am so sorry we failed, but I’m so glad you are here now, with Kal-El. Lara had been so afraid. Afraid Zeta would hurt you and twist your mind to do his bidding.”

Tal swallowed, feeling more shaken than he ever had before.

He mentally reviewed all the stories his father had told him about his mother, before comparing them to what he had just been told.

It made sense. It actually made sense.

Through the years, he had found holes in his father’s words. Identified contradictions and straight up lies. It was part of the reason why he had snapped when his father had refused his desire to include Kal-El all those years ago.

And now he knew that the real reason he was alive and on Earth was because of his mother. Because she had tried to take him from his father and had ended up warning Zeta. Because of her, Zeta had obtained a rocket for him to go to Earth in time.

But there was still doubt.

What he had just heard couldn't really be true, could it?

But if everything Jor-El had said was actually true, what else was? And what else was wrong?

How much of his life had been built on his father's deceit and manipulations? And how much were they still influencing him?

He needed to verify what he had learned, and there was really only one way to do that.

“Tal?” Kal asked, coming up beside him, concerned. “Are you okay?”

“I am, brother. I was just . . . reminded of something. Forgive me. I need. . . . I need to go.” He took a few steps away.

“Tal. Everything that’s happened, whatever has happened, it’s in the past. You’re here now. I won’t lie and say all of this isn't a lot, because it is, but . . . you have me now. We’re brothers. Things are going to be okay,” he said, approaching him.

And then Kal touched him, gripping his shoulder with his hand. Gripped his shoulder exactly how Tal had always imagined.

“I need to do something, Kal-El. I’ll find you when I know,” Tal managed.

Kal blinked at him, confused, and at first Tal expected him to demand answers, but instead he slowly nodded.

“Okay. I should head home myself,” he said, causing Tal to grow curious in turn. “Go do whatever you need to do. I’ll be around when you’re done.”

Tal smiled, feeling reassured despite how uncertain he currently felt. He turned, about to depart, when he hesitated.

"Will you be okay to leave here on your own?" Tal asked, wanting to slap himself for forgetting his brother was still recovering.

"I think so. The sunlight on the way here helped a bit," Kal assured.

Tal hummed, not really believing him, and looked at Jor-El. "Can you scan him? Make sure he's properly recovered before I go?"

Jor-El looked at Kal, alarmed and concerned. "Kal-El."

Kal went forward and a light immediately shined down. After a few seconds, the light shut off. Jor-El frowned.

"There are zones within your chest that are recovering from severe kryptonite poisoning, particularly your heart and left lung. How were you exposed and how was the kryptonite removed?” Jor-El asked.

“I was stabbed and the shard shattered. Tal incinerated the pieces before it was too late,” Kal explained, giving Tal a grateful nod.

“My deep gratitude to you, Tal-Rho. You are your mother’s son,” Jor-El replied.

“Is Kal sufficiently recovered?” Tal pressed, ignoring the strange pang of emotion that rattled in his chest at Jor-El’s last statement.

“Yes. It will take a few days for him to fully recover, but within an hour he will be alright to fly on his own,” Jor-El replied. "At least enough to get home."

Tal nodded his relief before looking at Kal. “I don’t know how long this will take me, brother, but I will come to you when I’m finished.”

“Alright, Tal,” Kal said.

And then Tal shot out of the ice cavern, intent on one thing.

Activating their mother's crystal.

_____________

Chapter Text

General Lane knew hiding the existence of the new Kryptonian was a lost cause, and considering everything, trying to cover it up would be a waste.

The world was abuzz about the unknown Kryptonian who had saved Superman’s life by incinerating the kryptonite that had been trapped inside him. The hospital had been quick to reveal what had happened after the crowd (near mob) outside began demanding answers after hearing Superman’s scream.

The intelligence community was beside themselves, scrambling to determine who this Kryptonian was and where he had disappeared to with the Man of Steel. And of course everyone else was wondering the same thing.

There was also the man in the metal suit. He had somehow gotten his hands on kryptonite and had technology that would make any military drool.

They still had no clue who or where he was.

What was more, now that Superman was not on the brink of death, the public's attention had shifted to the one who was responsible for almost killing him. The public was furious and wanted answers.

Who or what was the individual in the high tech armor? And why did they try to kill Superman?

He looked down at his phone. Lois still hadn't called him.

Where on earth was Clark?

_____________

Jordan and Jon were tired of watching the news. They had nothing new to report, and the wide range of reactions about their dad being hurt and then more or less kidnapped was emotionally jarring.

Some expressed deep concern for Superman, repeatedly saying they hoped that, wherever he was, he was recovering and would return soon. Others were obsessed with the gritty aspect of it all, commenting on his biology and wondering aloud if he felt pain the way humans did and the like.

Jordan and Jon both wanted to throw something after hearing that talking head and Lois suggested they turn off the television for a bit.

But how could they turn it off? What if something else happened?!

"You think he's okay?" Jordan asked.

"Jordan, stop." Jon tried not to groan. Jordan had asked this or something similar several times over the last few hours. "I don't know, okay? But wherever he is, he's better than he was. That's what I'm focusing on."

"I know it's hard," Lois said, entering the living room. "Waiting is the actual, literal worst. But he'll be back."

Jordan turned to her. "How often does this sort of thing happen? This isn't the first time, is it?"

Jon straightened. Those questions had been on his mind as well. How many times through the years had Superman been hurt and their mom had endured in silence, keeping a brave face as she got them to school and picked them up before making dinner?

"It hasn't happened in a very long time," Lois admitted. "The last was when you boys were 8 months old, but it resolved quickly. Quicker than this time."

"That's sorta good to hear," Jon said.

"Doesn't make waiting any easier, though, huh?" Lois asked sympathetically.

"No," Jordan quickly agreed. "But at least I now know it doesn’t happen, like, every other week or something.”

"Oh, don't even joke like that," Lois said, and she was only partially serious as they all smiled.

And then they heard a sonic boom.

Jon and Jordan both gasped and they all bolted to the front door.

"Dad!" the twins cried as they rushed outside behind Lois.

Clark landed heavily on the front grass a second later and slowly straightened as Lois scrambled down the steps.

"Clark!" She embraced him and he eagerly wrapped his arms around her before kissing her soundly.

After a few seconds, Lois pulled back, running her hands over his chest and taking him in with her eyes.

"What happened? Are you okay? Did you talk to your father to make sure yet? What did he say? And who took you? A rich tailor?" she asked, motioning to his casual suit after her stream of questions.

Clark laughed, looking over her shoulder as Jon and Jordan came down the steps.

"Come on, you two," Clark said, opening his arms as Lois made room for them.

The twins hurried forward and received a desperately needed bearhug.

"Love you, guys," Clark said, clutching them tightly.

"Are you okay?" Jordan asked.

"Yeah, are you? Granddad told mom the doctors said you had a heart attack during surgery?" Jon added in question.

Clark shot Lois a startled look. "I didn't know that. I overheard some discussion, something about cauterization of something, which I suppose if it caused a blockage could have caused a heart attack, but I wasn't really able to pay attention."

"Why don't we go inside and you can tell us what happened," Lois decided. "I also need to call my dad soon."

Clark nodded and followed them inside and to the living room where they sat down together around the coffee table on the couch and chairs.

They all looked expectantly at him.

"Okay, so the man who saved me, his name is Tal-Rho. His parents were Zeta-Rho and Lara Lor-Van," Clark stated.

"'Lara Lor-Van'? Isn't that–?" Lois started, holding her cellphone.

"My mother, yes," Clark finished for her.

"Seriously? And you're sure he's not some imposter?" Lois questioned.

"He's really my half-brother. And–Lois, I need to call your dad sooner rather than later," Clark said, his thoughts shifting.

"What's wrong?" Lois asked, passing over the phone.

"Tal was held prisoner by a government group for years after he had first arrived here as a child. I want your dad to look into it for me," Clark stated.

"Okay. He wanted to know as soon as you arrived anyway," Lois agreed as he dialed.

"General," Clark greeted.

"Superman! It's a relief to hear your voice. Are you okay?" Sam answered.

"Yes, though it's going to take me a few days to fully recover. I'll give you the full debrief, then, if that's alright," Clark said, though it wasn't really a question.

"Of course, though, can you tell me anything about the kryptonian who took you? The DoD needs to make a threat assessment," Sam said hopefully.

"He's actually why I've called. He told me he landed a bit before I did, in the British countryside. He wasn’t found by good people like I was. Sam, he was experimented on for years. I want to know that the group is gone and the people responsible have been held accountable," he said, not bothering to keep the anger from his voice.

"What?" Sam asked, astonished.

"I didn't really get to inquire further, but I will the next time I see him," Clark went on.

"Okay, I'll look into things on my end. So you think he was held in the, what, early 70's?" Sam asked, doing his best to shift gears.

"Possibly late 60's to late 80's. I really don't know how long he was held, but a while, and . . . I get the feeling when he broke out he wasn't gentle about it."

"No, I imagine not," Sam agreed. "So did you find out his name or who he is exactly?"

"Well . . . as hard as this is to believe, he's my . . . half-brother. My mother's first son. Let's just say the last few hours have been full of revelations."

"Oh. Uh. Okay." Sam was flabbergasted.

"His name is Tal-Rho. I don't really know much more beyond that. After he saved me, he took me to my fortress so I could rest and then he left,” Clark explained.

“So you’re okay now, I take it?” Sam asked.

“I’m on the mend. I should be back to normal in a few days. Well, my normal, anyway,” he said, fatigue growing in his voice.

"A great many people will be relieved to hear that," Sam stated. "Well, I'll let you go so you can rest. Oh, and the DoD retrieved your uniform from the hospital. So don't worry about it."

"Thank you, General," he said before hanging up.

He looked up to find his family staring at him.

"What?" he asked.

"Let me get this straight," Jon began. "You have a long lost brother–"

"Half-brother," Jordan corrected.

"–Half-brother, who was held captive for who knows how long by some horrible group before breaking free, and today he saved your life by using heat vision to burn out the kryptonite in your chest before kidnapping you, getting you clothes, and then taking you to the Fortress?" Jon asked.

"Yeah, pretty much," Clark agreed.

"That's a lot," Lois commented.

"So does that mean we have an uncle now?" Jordan asked, bewildered.

Clark blinked. "Wow. I guess it does."

"Did your father check you over?" Lois asked.

"Yeah. Tal asked him to. He didn't want to leave until he knew I'd be able to fly on my own," he said, smiling at the memory. "Anyway, my father said I'll be fully recovered in a few days."

"Okay. Well, I think you should go ahead and get some sleep. You really do look exhausted," Lois said, taking his hand in both of hers.

"You all look pretty tired yourselves. I take it you didn't sleep much. I'm sorry for worrying you all," Clark said, looking at Jon and Jordan as well.

"We're just glad you're okay, Dad," Jon said.

"Yeah," Jordan agreed. "I hope that armor guy doesn't have anymore kryptonite."

"Me too, bud, but your grandfather and I will find him. Who knows, maybe Tal will help us."

"What has he been doing all this time anyway? I mean, does he have, well, a normal life like you?" Jon asked.

"He must. He told me he's a businessman and owns homes all around the world," Clark said.

"Wow! Really? So he's rich too?!" Jordan asked, intrigued and a bit excited.

"Alright. I vote bed for everyone," Lois decided. "We can talk more in-depth later, when we're not half asleep and your father isn't still healing."

Grudgingly (though not really), everyone agreed and went up to their beds.

_____________

"How are you doing, really?" Lois asked once they were alone in their room.

"Sore. Really sore. But at least it doesn’t hurt to breathe anymore," he said as he pulled her against himself as they cuddled beneath the blankets.

He closed his eyes, trying not to think about how close he had been to missing out on being part of his sons' lives and growing old with his wife.

Lois relaxed against him.

"I discovered something. . . ." Lois said after a moment. "But I’ll let you sleep. We’ll talk about it tomorrow."

"What is it?" he asked.

Sure, he needed to sleep, but now that he knew she had found something, he would be stuck wondering what it was about until he knew.

"Galaxy Holdings secretly acquired Smallville's bank," Lois stated.

"Morgan Edge is their majority shareholder," Clark said, though he knew she already knew that. "Why would he be interested in a bunch of family farms here?"

"That’s a very good question. Clark, we don't need to talk about this now, but I think we should consider holding off on selling. Something tells me we need to figure out what's going on before we do anything," Lois said.

Clark nodded in agreement. "You're right. All of this feels . . . bizarre. But . . . how can we afford it? I was just laid off, and, unfortunately, you're likely on the cutting block yourself."

"I thought a bit on that," she admitted. "How would you feel if we left Metropolis? This has sort of been in the back of my mind for a while, but maybe moving somewhere new would be good for all of us. So, we move to Smallville, save up some money, figure out what's going on with the bank and Morgan Edge while scoping out neighboring states and cities, and decide where we want to settle," Lois proposed. "The boys are getting older. Within a few years they'll be driving. I don't know about you, but I'd rather that stage be done outside a busy city. And then a few years after that, we'll be . . . empty nesters. I just think . . . we could use this as an opportunity."

Clark didn't answer, his mind going over all the implications.

"Clark?" she prompted, at first wondering if he had fallen asleep.

"I think that's a good idea. And now that the boys know, I can use my powers, so moving won't be as difficult as it'd normally be," Clark said, quickly warming up to the idea.

"Okay. We'll talk about it more later, once we've slept," she said.

He hummed his agreement, and moments later, Lois felt him surrender to sleep.

_____________

Jon woke up and headed downstairs with his brother following behind.

The house was quiet, and he suspected his parents were still asleep, which, considering the past week, wasn't a surprise.

Jon was still trying to wrap his head around it all.

Somehow surviving a dozen massive pipes landing on them and being told their dorky dad was Superman had already been a lot. But then to have their dad, as Superman, be severely hurt on the other side of the world before being saved by a long lost relative. . . .

It was pretty intense.

Really, he was amazed Jordan hadn't hyperventilated. Jon was finding it hard to keep it together himself.

Although . . . most of it was supremely cool.

Their dad was Superman. The selfless alien who had saved Earth how many times now?

The same person who caught bullets with his bare hands was also the same man who fried eggs for them in the mornings.

It certainly explained how mom had gotten all those exclusives.

Jon picked an apple from the kitchen island and quietly headed outside, not wanting to disturb his parents, but upon stepping outside, he found that his dad was already awake.

Sort of.

He was laying on a cot on the back porch, shirtless, sunbathing.

"Oh! Uh, sorry, Dad," Jon stuttered as Jordan stopped beside him, closed the door behind them.

"You're fine. And thanks for being quiet. Your mother needs to sleep," Clark said softly.

"What about you?" Jordan asked, staring at the spot on their father's chest that had been the focus of so much discussion the day before – and even now.

"I need the sun more than sleep now," Clark said, closing his eyes and clearly enjoying the morning light.

"So it's really only going to take a few days to get better?" Jon tentatively asked while struggling to reconcile the reality before him.

His father had almost been killed less than two days ago and so that meant Earth’s greatest hero had also almost been killed.

He had always considered his dad and Superman to be invincible – but now he knew.

They weren't.

"Yeah. I’ll check in with my father tomorrow to check everything, but I'm probably at about 80% now," Clark said.

"Wow." Jon didn't have any other words.

"Superhealing, right?" Jordan asked.

"Yeah."

"Hm. 'Every power comes with its own burden and responsibilities,'" Jon recalled. "I think I understand the burden with this one, since the kryptonite got stuck in you because, in this case, you heal too readily."

Clark opened his eyes. "That could be considered one, though overall the burden of it for me is shared with the burden of invulnerability. I don't really know how it feels to be sick or hurt like, well, humans. I've never had a cold or had to contend with wearing a cast or even dealing with itchy scabs. I've had to pretend. So–”

"Oh! So that's why you act all weird whenever we get sick!" Jordan said before he could really consider his words. "Uh. I mean. . . ."

"I act weird?" Clark asked, confused.

"You kind of do," Jon put in hesitantly. "You get really motherhenny."

“‘Motherhenny’?” Clark asked.

“You do, Clark,” Lois said, suddenly opening the back door and joining them.

“Oh. Sorry,” he said, not sure what to think.

“Don’t be. It’s really sweet,” Lois said, amused. “Well, usually. Anyway, since all of us are up, shall we fix a late breakfast?"

"Pancakes?" Jon asked hopefully.

“Sure. I can fix that for us,” Clark agreed.

"That sounds perfect, but only if you're up to it," Lois said.

“I am. And I think I might show the twins how I use heat vision to cook the best pancakes,” he said happily as he got to his feet. “Though I want some answers on the motherhenny comment. What do you mean it’s usually sweet?”

Lois laughed and led them inside.

_____________

Later that evening, a family meeting commenced in the living room.

"So . . . we're moving here?" Jordan asked.

"Just for a little while. With Dad being laid off, and the things going on with the bank, this is the most financially sound decision for our family. We're not sure how long we'll be here, perhaps a year, but moving here will allow us to build a nest egg so we'll be in a much better position in the future," Lois explained, though she left out the other purpose, which was to help them investigate whatever Morgan Edge was doing with the bank.

"What about school?" Jordan asked.

"Yeah, and practice? The team?" Jon asked.

"We can look into you joining the team here, though I know that's not the same. Moving here will cause you to sacrifice the position you would have had in Metropolis," Lois admitted sympathetically.

"How about this, to make it up to you, I can teach you two about kryptonian technology and we can look into alternative football teams to have you join if you end up not liking the high school's?" Clark proposed. "I know teenage leagues exist in some places. There are options."

Jon's eyebrows rose. "Really? That . . . that might be alright."

"Dude! Kryptonian technology just 'might be alright'?!" Jordan exclaimed.

"I was talking about the football teams," Jon pointed out hurriedly, looking at Clark worriedly.

Clark chuckled. "I figured. And Jordan, I know this won't be easy for you either, so since we'll be trying the football thing with Jon, if you want a specific thing as well . . . let us know. I'll be taking you both to the Fortress for lessons at least once a month, so that's a give in."

"A specific thing? Like what?" Jordan asked.

"Well, there are community events here as well as clubs. I know that's not your thing, but things are quieter here, the groups are smaller. You might find they're more enjoyable than they had been for you in Metropolis. And there are a wider range of activities."

Jordan hummed quiet disinterest.

"Oh! There's horses. You could look into horseback riding or . . . if you get adventurous, even rodeo," Clark tried, recalling how much Jordan had liked riding when he had years before at a Fair.

Lois gave him a side eye at rodeo.

"Hmm, horses could be neat," Jordan admitted.

"This time will just be a short season. And while I know this might feel unfair or too disrupting, especially since you're just starting highschool, I think the change will be good for us in the long run," Lois said.

Jon and Jordan nodded, looking surprisingly thoughtful.

"Well, you'll be able to use your powers around the house here more than in Metropolis, right?" Jon asked curiously.

Clark beamed. "Yeah! And they'll make moving in a whole lot easier!"

"So you'll show us more?" Jordan asked, getting excited as well.

"Of course! I can even show you where my dad would take me in the fields to practice my powers when I was your age," he said eagerly.

"But not today. You're still recovering," Lois pointed out firmly.

Clark's shoulders sagged in disappointment, making Jon and Jordan snicker.

"Alright, so are there any other concerns?" Lois asked, ignoring her pouting husband.

"So when we're ready to move once we have that nest egg or whatever, will we move back to Metropolis?" Jordan asked.

Lois looked at Clark, wondering how open they should be about the family finances and situation in general, but the twins were getting older. Providing them with a personal example of real world budgeting now was likely a good idea.

Clark took the question. "Well, your mom and I were thinking of scoping out other places. Perhaps a place that's bigger than Smallville but not as busy as Metropolis. We don't really know yet, but with my side activities, finding a full time job for me is a challenge. It's part of the reason why working at the Planet had been so ideal. I had more leeway there than I'd had in other jobs. But anyway, the goal is to find a place that will be easily covered by just one income when we're ready to leave Smallville, so if I can't find a full time job, we still have breathing room."

"What are you going to be doing while we're here?" Jon asked.

"I'll work the farm and do side jobs around town as well as the nearby towns and freelance writing. That'll let me work my own hours," he said. "I might make an LLC with the handyman jobs. Who knows."

"And mom will keep working at the Planet from here?" Jordan asked.

"That's another reason why we feel moving here would be best. With them letting me go, they could easily let your mom go next, and if that happens, the money I'll be making here will cover us. Smallville's cost of living is much lower than Metropolis' and I can begin working and making money right away. If we stayed in Metropolis and mom was let go as well, our situation would be more serious. While we'd have some money from selling this house, that wouldn't provide us with much, since much of the profits would go to paying off the loan. And it would probably be months before we both found full time jobs, which would mean we'd have to make do with part time jobs."

"Oh," Jon said, realizing this move was done for more reasons than he had thought.

"Handling these sorts of things is part of being an adult, so when your dad and I tell you to enjoy being a kid, this is one reason why. However, as much as I wish you two would slow down, you're not little kids anymore, and so learning about these issues now will help you later."

Jon and Jordan nodded in understanding.

"Which reminds me," Clark said. "Come with me, you two. Follow me out to the barn. I wanna show you a few things."

The twins stood up eagerly.

“Like Superman things?” Jon asked.

Clark chuckled, pleased they were so excited. “Yeah. Two things: the ship I came here in and . . . the log.”

“The log?” Jordan asked. “Like a ship’s log?”

Lois laughed. “Oh, you’ll see. It won’t be what you’re expecting. Trust me.”

“What, is it, like, a literal log or something?” Jon asked, confused.

Lois laughed harder.

“Just follow me,” Clark said, a little exasperated now, but also amused.

Jon and Jordan looked at each other before shrugging and following their dad to the barn.

_____________

Thousands of miles away, within an earthen structure in the Badlands, Tal-Rho stood before his mother and the shattered shards of his father’s sunstone.

“I’m free,” Tal whispered.

“You are, my son,” Lara agreed.

“I have much to do,” Tal said.

“You do, but you will succeed,” Lara assured.

“Thank you, mother. I will return,” Tal said, before he vanished.

_____________
The End