[ text | un: anonymous ]

[supersweet]

If someone takes control of you, does that mean that there's something bad in you all along?

How do you get rid of it?

Comments

[supersweet]

I have to try to get better. That's still something.

Thanks. It's been rough.

private

[antietam]

That's a good goal to have.

[ ... it hits him enough to change this to private after a moment. ]

I think I'm still figuring out how to deal with something like this too. Maybe keeping an eye on each other would help?

[ private video ]

[supersweet]

[ Jon hesitates. More than ever, he's sick of secrets. He's sick of hiding. Hamilton, his home hid from him. Lied to him. So did Kathy. After some deliberation, he switches to video. ]

What was it like for you?

[ private video ]

[antietam]

[ Oh. He doesn't expect to see Jon on the other end and he shows his surprise for a moment.

He wouldn't have been so pessimistic if he'd known he was talking to a kid, but... oh well. He's going through what Adam is going through, too. ]

The worst. [ He looks away from the camera, clearly ashamed of himself. It's easier to talk about it to someone like Jon, though. ] It was a demon, not a person. It took over my hands and eyes and it... made me almost kill my boyfriend. It can't control me anymore, but I still think about it all the time.

[supersweet]

He . . . He really hated my dad. He strapped me to a chair and made me watch — [ Jon bites his lip, his courage failing him. ]

[antietam]

You don't have to talk about it if it's too hard. I understand, remembering everything you did when it happened. [ He really wishes he had the solution. ]

Did you ever talk to your family about it?

[supersweet]

[ Jon wipes his face with his palm. ]

I know I gotta tell my dad here about it. But . . . how do I tell him that? I could have hurt him.

[antietam]

I think... he'll understand. He knows who you are, and that it wasn't you. He can probably give better advice than I can.

But, like I said, we'll help each other through it. You're not alone.

[supersweet]

[ Jon sniffles. ]

Yeah. I mean, he's gone and it worked out. Maybe I'm just being stupid.

[antietam]

It's... it's not stupid. [ It's difficult how much he can relate. ] It was an awful thing to have happen. No one should ever take away your free will like that.

And it's hard to recover when someone does. But how do you feel when you do good things?

[supersweet]

I dunno. I haven't done anything really good lately. I guess . . . I helped stop him.

[antietam]

So he couldn't do it to someone else. That's really brave of you, to face someone who did that.

I'm not sure I would have been able to, not for a long time.

[supersweet]

[ Jon lost most of his powers. At least temporarily. Which suits him fine. He doesn't want to think about them anymore. ]

I had to. It was the only way to beat him. He had this . . . psychic link in my head.

[antietam]

Some people would just give up. Let it keep happening because it would be too difficult to fight. [ He definitely knows that feeling. ]

I think it says more about you that you chose to fight him than whatever he made you do.

[supersweet]

I guess. I wasn't really . . . It was a mess in my head. It still feels like a mess.

[antietam]

But it was your instincts, right? That kept you fighting.

[ He hums in thought. ] Maybe you could use a distraction. We could get ice cream?

[supersweet]

[ He nods slowly. ]

Ice-cream sounds good.

[antietam]

[ He smiles. ] Sure thing. Where are you? I'll come get you.

[supersweet]

I'm at my house with Annie. I'll text you the directions.

[ Once he's done that, Jon goes to wait outside. He leaves Annie in the house because he doesn't know if showing people a Kryptonian war kite is a good idea. ]

Hey Adam.

[antietam]

[ Adam gets there fast. He doesn't know how he can help, but he knows letting Jon dwell in this alone is a bad idea. ]

Hey. Thanks for meeting me. Do you know any ice cream places or should we explore a little?

[supersweet]

Uhm, I think there's one nearby. Mr. Rogers and I went there once.

[ What would he think of Jon now? His shoulders slump a little. ]

I've got enough money.

[antietam]

No way, it's my treat. You kicked my butt the last time we played video games, remember? Winner gets free ice cream.

[ That wasn't the deal, but it is now. ]

However much you want. Hopefully they have monster sundaes.

[supersweet]

[ Normally he'd protest but he accepts this with a tired nod. ]

I don't think I could look at any more monsters for a while. Our town got attacked by a giant squid. And . . . other stuff.

The whole experience was weird.

[antietam]

A giant squid. [ It's not really a question because it doesn't sound like a joke. ]

Okay, no monster sundae. Maybe a superhero sundae or... alien sundae? [ Are aliens too similar to monsters? Here, probably not. ] You've sure been through a lot, Jon. It sounds really tough.

[supersweet]

[ Normally, Jon would be lying better, but he's worn down from the lies in his life. ]

Yeah. I mean, I've handled weird stuff before. But this feels more personal, y'know?