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They were three hours into the drive and several more hours out from Gotham U. Proudly, Clark had mostly managed to hold it together so far. He focused on the horizon, determinedly not thinking about driving back home to Smallville with an empty backseat.
“Why didn't we fly again?” Jordan whined from over his shoulder.
“You were the ones who wanted a ‘normal college experience,’” Lois reminded him.
“Yeah, within reason,” groaned Jon. “With some planning, we could’ve flown everything in like a shipping container or something.”
“And parked it where?” Lois shot back.
“Besides, where's the fun in that?” Clark added. “You both loved road trips when you were younger. You'd spend hours just trying to get truck drivers to honk.”
Jordan winced in the rearview. “That’s not happening this time. Ouch.” He rubbed at his ear.
“Yeah, Dad. We're not little kids anymore.”
“If you insist,” Lois deadpanned. “From now on, you do your own laundry.”
Clark was powerless against the wave of emotion that hit him at another reminder of how grown up their boys really were. They had become kind, smart, big-hearted young men. Role models. Natural heroes. They had taken everything life threw at them—if not with ease, then at least with panache. Clark’s grip puckered the steering wheel, tears blurring his vision—
The truck shook.
Clark blinked, scanning the terrain for what could have caused an earthquake in Missouri, of all places. Maybe it was a job for the Supermen?
“Punchbuggy!”
“Ow! Jon, that hurt, you dick!”
“Boys!” Lois went full Mom Voice. “Cut it out, you almost crashed the truck!”
“What?” Jon’s voice was pure innocence. “Dad wanted us to have fun like when we were kids.”
“That wasn’t fun,” Jordan muttered. “And I don’t even see a Beetle anywhere!”
“It’s in Memphis,” Jon said smugly, hiking a thumb out his window. “Like 300 miles that way.”
“Oh, well in that case.” Another sharp tremor rattled them as Jordan socked Jon on the arm, and Clark fought to keep the wheel straight. “I see one in Toronto.”
Okay, so maybe they could stand to grow up a little bit more. But where was the fun in that?
Clark squeezed his wife’s knee, sending silent reassurance that he would protect her (and the truck) if anything went haywire. She gave him a tight look in response but stayed silent, and he knew she understood. For now, he just wanted to enjoy his boys while he still could. They’d worry about the rest later.
Jon looked straight down at his feet and smirked. “Boo-yah. Indonesia.” He reared back his fist, and Clark braced himself for whatever came next.