Awwgust Drabbles

Childhood Friends

Clark aimlessly flicked through the channels in his parents' house and stopped when he saw Superman. He sat up. The cops encircled Superman, their firearms aimed at the alien at their feet. Clark winced as he watched himself toss the cop onto the hood of a car. Superman's eyes flared dangerously, fire engulfing everything in his sight.

The recording ended and zoomed out, zeroing in on Gordon Godfrey's ugly mug. "I ask you is the kind of man you want your children to be looking up to," the screen behind him was frozen on a shot of Superman screaming as his heat vision went berserk.  "Superman should have stayed dead," Godfrey said. "He came back wrong in the head." 

He's got that right. Superman wasn't supposed to have panic attacks. Clark saw the Apokolips weapons and was transported back to Manheim's lab.  

Lois turned the TV off. "Don't watch that crap. He's a madman Clark."

"They're not lies," Clark said. "I came back wrong."

"You were never dead, Clark," Lois sat beside him, dragging a large bag of potato chips with her. Lois had picked up a nasty habit of eating her feelings and had put on a few pounds. Maybe it was only obvious to him. There was a concerning budge to her belly from all the burgers she 'snacked' on.   

"People don't want to put their hope in someone that will let them down," Clark said, nudging closer to Lois.

"Superman never would let us down," Lois said. "And this person for one is going to stand by her hero no matter how much mud they sling."

"Why?"

"Because that's what you do when you believe in someone!" Her faith in Superman took his breath away. He didn't deserve her loyalty. He screwed up royally.

"You know what you need?" Lois slapped his belly. He was tempted to return the favor and test to see how flabby she had gotten. He'd love her no matter what, but this weight gain was worrisome. He had no idea how to approach the topic without sounding like a dick. 

"A pick-me up," Lois tossed him a football, eyes dancing with excitement.

"Thanks, Lois but I don't think playing quarterback is going to make my day," he returned the football to the floor.

"Depends on the cheerleader," Lois smirked.

"Are you offering?" Clark scowled. She was not going to fit in her old cheerleader outfit. Her go to outfit lately was his sweatpants and jersey.

"Come on, did you forget?" Lois said. "Today is our Smallville High reunion."

"I'm sorry did you say our?" Clark gaped at her. "You were enrolled there for like –"

"Twenty-three days," Lois said

"You showed up for five."

"That's a record in my book." Lois looped her arms around his waist. "Smallville is the closest thing to a past this military brat has and I'm not gonna miss it. And I want to show off my boyfriend." Lois said. 

"There's a lot of memories there for me," Clark winced. "And everyone will be looking at me weird."

Smallville was no Metropolis. It was shy over 300 people –less now that most of his classmates had moved away. Smallville people weren't as dumb as Metropolians. Clark Kent wasn't just going to homecoming, Superman would be on display too. He wasn't ready for such scrutiny. 

"Come on, Smallville," Lois begged. "It would mean a lot to me. Seeing all those familiar faces," Lois said. "It was like I had a home, a place I fit in." she said.

"Speaking of fitting in," Clark said. "What are you going to wear?" This was a slippery slope. He was about to get his head bit off but it had to be said.