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“Just a little more to the left, then I think you’re good, bud.”
Jon focused on the (strange) task at hand, aiming where his father had directed with a perfectly calibrated stream of heat.
Two months ago, he never would have expected to find himself in the bathroom using heat vision and a piece of Kryptonian metal to shave his ever-increasing stubble. But so much had changed recently and this had become part of his new routine.
When he’d first realized that he was too invulnerable for any other method, it had thrown him for a loop. But Jordan had already crossed that hurdle and Jon was determined to take everything in stride. After a few weeks of practicing in the barn (just in case) they’d moved the activity indoors.
His aim and finesse was getting better, and he probably wouldn’t accidentally burn a hole in the wall at this point. But he was grateful that his dad was still there for him every time he needed to do it. The guidance and the demonstrations helped significantly, and gave him the confidence he needed to embrace this unique facet of his life.
It hadn’t taken him long to realize that all of the weirdness that came along with his abilities didn’t feel isolating with his father and brother at his side.
He didn’t want to imagine it any other way. Those few days without his dad had been more than enough.
“There,” he said, a small smile of triumph settling in as he tackled the last patch of hair.
He blinked away the red light, watching his reflection as the final flickers faded from his gaze.
There was no doubt that heat vision was the most jarring power. He still wasn’t entirely used to seeing his face alight with an other worldly red. Nothing made him feel more…different than that. Not even flying.
But using it was a necessary part of his grooming routine now and the supportive clap on his shoulder helped divert his mind away from how unsettling it could be.
“That was great. You definitely have the angles figured out,” his dad declared proudly. Jon could see his smiling reflection too. And the reflection of his brother leaning against the door frame as he looked on.
Jordan had taken his turn first, and still willingly took their dad’s coaching too. He hadn’t been doing it that much longer than Jon and the hardest part was definitely seeing the details clearly through the red haze. It helped to have a someone talking you through it.
“Thanks, dad,” Jon replied, placing down the small square of metal they’d salvaged from his father’s ship. Kryptonian alloys were one of the few things strong enough to reflect heat vision without melting and they each had their own piece for shaving now.
“I think I’m getting closer to doing it on my own,” he decided, pleased with his recent progress. “But I appreciate the help.”
His dad gave his shoulder another supportive pat. And that probably would have been the end of the conversation if it hadn’t been for the sad hum his bother let out at the remark.
“What’s with you?” Jon asked, turning away from the bathroom counter to face Jordan instead.
The other teen had been standing in the door frame with his arms tightly folded across his chest and a serious expression on his face for the past few minutes. It was a bit off, especially since he’d been in a good mood earlier. Jon had no idea what had shifted.
“Nothing, just—“
Jordan stopped, eyes flickering towards their dad before looking down at the floor. He rubbed his newly shaved chin for a moment, as if lost in thought. The frown settling deeper on his face.
“I don’t know, I’m just thinking about how messed up things are, I guess,” Jordan finally shrugged. “It’s great that you can help us with stuff like this now, dad, but it’s only a matter of time before you can’t, right?” Jordan released a heavy sigh. “You’ll be able to shave like a human one day. And eventually, you won’t even have heat vision any more. It’s…weird.”
Jon hadn’t really thought about that (in fact, he’d been trying not to think about any of that recently)— but he realized that Jordan had a point. Their dad was such a guiding force for them both. He was the expert who understood how these powers worked and he always knew what to do. Even better, he could do these things with them, which made the strangeness easier to grapple with.
His stomach twisted in to an unsettled knot as he thought about that disappearing.
He didn’t want it to happen. It was so wrong. And it didn’t feel fair.
Beside him, his dad let out a long breath, gaze travelling back and forth between both boys.
“You’re right, things won’t always be the same,” he agreed, the sadness apparent in his own tone. “But we still have a while before we really have to think about that,” he reminded him with a hint of his trademark optimism. “And no matter what I can or can’t do, I’ll always be there to support you guys. No matter what.”
Jon knew that, and Jordan managed a shaky nod. But the sadness hanging over the room was still palpable.
All of them knew that it wouldn’t quite be the same. Because of what Lex Luthor had done. Jon felt a flash of anger mingle with the other feelings within.
“We know,” Jordan answered for both of them, mustering a fleeting smile. “But it still sucks.”
“Yeah,” Jon agreed sombrely, “we have all of these abilities because of you, dad. And it’s totally crazy that one day we’ll be the only ones like this.”
He gestured around vaguely, not quite sure what he was indicating. But everyone understood what he meant.
Jon was proud of who he was. Despite the public scrutiny and the fact that he’d never be normal, he wouldn’t change any of it.
Frankly, getting his powers had made him feel complete. It was as if a missing piece he hadn’t even known about had finally been found. And using them with his dad and brother made it even better.
He didn’t want that to change. Especially since, for him, it had just begun.
He couldn’t help but wonder how many more flights he’d be able to take with his father before the inevitable end. Even though he’d still have Jordan (thank God), there was a painful loneliness to that thought.
“One day we’re going to be more alien than the guy who landed here in a spaceship,” Jordan commented, glancing at Jon, his arms still folded tightly.
Jon swallowed. He’d never thought about things in those terms before, but it seemed unsettlingly true.
“That’s crazy,” he muttered, half to himself as the idea began to sink in.
He was only starting to come to terms with his own identity. He wanted to cling to all of the commonalities he could.
“Guys, it’s going to be okay,” their dad replied, perhaps wanting to cut things off before they spiralled further. “It’ll be an adjustment, and there is so much I am going to miss about having my abilities,” his proud gaze moved between them once more. “Not being able to share some of the experiences with you will be the hardest part. But even when my powers fade, there are things that will never change. I’m still going to support you. And I’m still going to be Kryptonian.”
He gave them a meaningful look, using the label he didn’t often evoke.
It probably shouldn’t have been as rare as it was to bring up Krypton around their house. Yet for whenever reason, they didn’t talk about it much— especially outside of the Fortress.
The promise of using that place to learn more together had never really materialized. It was their go to for emergencies and training. But everything else had always fallen to the wayside.
Jon still knew very little about that distant place. Though he’d found himself thinking about it more and more recently— and connecting it to himself in ways he never had before.
“I’ll still be me,” his dad continued firmly. “And we’ll always share our unique heritage.” He gave Jon a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder before reaching out to give Jordan the same.
He was right, of course.
Nothing could change that.
What they shared went far deeper than heat vision or flying.
And that was a bond that no one could ever take away.
“No one on Krypton had powers,” Jon remembered, “I guess you’ll get to experience what that would have been like.”
It was oddly reassuring to think of things in those terms, rather than to think of his dad becoming something he was not. Something further removed from them.
His father paused for a moment, a thoughtful look crossing his face as he considered that fact.
“I guess I will,” he said, smiling briefly, “but not yet,” he added, “we still have time to experience things together.”
That was a comforting thought, and Jon felt his spirits lift as an idea struck.
“Maybe we can fly to the Fortress after breakfast, and work on a few of those history modules Grandma mentioned,” he suggested, surprising even himself with the rush of enthusiasm.
His dad raised a brow, and his brother’s face showed a flicker of interest.
He’d never asked to do anything like that.
Before the powers, he had denied his connection to it. And since getting them, things had been too busy to even think about it.
But maybe an afternoon sharing things that they’d always be able to, no matter what, was exactly what they needed.
“Could be fun,” Jordan shrugged, apparently trying to play it cool. That facade eroded as he added hopefully “and maybe we can start that language stuff soon too?”
Their dad surveyed them both for a long moment, and Jon could see the barely contained emotion behind his eyes as he did.
Things weren’t perfect— and one day unfortunate changes would become a reality. But there was still so much to look forward to.
Together.
“Come here.”
His dad pulled them both in for a tight hug, the pride radiating off of him as he did.
For now, his arms were filled with a strength that few could match. Jon revelled in it, returning the gesture just as tightly and releasing some of the tension within.
They wouldn’t always be able to hold each other like this. They wouldn’t always be equally matched.
He knew that.
But as hard as it was to accept, he also knew that they’d get through it.
His dad was still going to be there, and they shared bonds that would never break.
That was what mattered most.