[ 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

[advanced]

Then you just have to try and keep going, you're not a danger to anyone any more, that's all you can ask for.

[Maybe that's a bleak sort of view to give a child.]

[supersweet]

[ No less bleak than Batman. Jon nods before looking at his shoes. ]

Sorry for yelling at you last time.

[advanced]

It's fine.

[He glances sideways at the kid.]

Guess now you know why I'm so 'twitchy'.

[That was how Jon put it, right?]

[supersweet]

[ Jon winces. ]

Sorry.

[advanced]

I said it's fine, you didn't know.

[He shifts a little, glancing out at the ruined city beyond the perimeter.]

Do you have any questions?

[This was a one time deal, this honesty and openness, but he did say he'd help Jon with their shared experiences.]

[supersweet]

I . . . I dunno.

I think I'm still a little scared. I almost hurt a lot of people.

[advanced]

But you didn't, you should hold onto that. Not all of us can say it.

[He hurt a lot of people, and that's blood he'll never be able to wash away.]

[supersweet]

I don't feel lucky. He made me watch my mom get hurt. Made me watch my town burn. He hit me when I said no.

I guess I kind of feel . . . cold.

[advanced]

You will.

[That's probably not comforting.]

That's why I never said you were lucky, just to hold onto that. Sometimes you have to find the smallest things to hold onto in order to keep your head above water.

[supersweet]

I didn't lose anything. Not really.

[ Jon doesn't mention his powers. That's off topic and dangerous to share. ]

[advanced]

[He hesitates a moment, and then tugs off his left glove to reveal the shiny metal underneath.]

I lost a few things. But I'm still here, still going, so you can do it too.

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I'm . . . I'm not a quitter.

[ This much he knows. ]

I won't just give up.

[advanced]

[That earns him a tiny smile.]

Now you sound like your Da.

[supersweet]

Dad would have never let this happen.

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You sure about that? He's a good guy, but he's not perfect, we all miss things and make mistakes.

[supersweet]

[ Jon shakes his head. ]

You only know my dad like this. When he's younger. You haven't seen all he can do.

[advanced]

So? You're young, you'll get there too one day. Quit trying to put too much on your shoulders.

[supersweet]

[ Ah, yes. The "you're young" argument. His shoulders hunch. ]

I know that. But I'm not just a kid either. I'm not just anything.

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Sure you're just a kid.

[Bluntly putting that out there.]

It doesn't matter what species you are, or what powers you've got, you're still a kid.

[supersweet]

No one is just anything. Not in my world or anywhere else.

I'm not saying I'm not a kid.

[ Jon's no Damian. He has no shame in acknowledging his limits. He only struggles with his own self-esteem. ]

I'm just saying . . . most kids aren't in my position.

[advanced]

So what?

[He spreads his fingers, the metal ones gleaming in the light now that they're uncovered.]

When you're the only one in your position, it doesn't mean you have to be perfect. You kept fighting, that makes you strong, don't be so down on yourself.

[supersweet]

I'll . . . I'll try.

[ He still wished he had more answers, but Jon knew he wasn't going to get much just yet. ],/small>

[advanced]

[He shifts a little, preparing to get up.]

I know I'm not a whole lotta help, I'm not good with people, but if you need me you can call.

[supersweet]

[ Jon blinks, caught off guard. ]

Really?

[advanced]

Yeah.

[It's partly because he owes a lot to Clark, but he's not going to say that to Jon and make him think it's an obligation.]