[ CLOSED ]

[supersweet]

who: Jon's CR + anyone who knew Clark Kent
what: Reaction to Clark's departure
when: 10th of August
where: The Superfam House
warnings: sads?? sads.


[ Jon didn't know what to do. Every action feels robotic. He sent out what texts he could about his father's departure from his phone and checking his father's contacts. He didn't bother checking for the replies. It buzzed quietly in a corner and it wall he could do to melt it down. He must have cried for hours when he found his father's letter, holding onto Annora until she protested his strong grip. After the sadness, the fear had finally sunken in. He was alone. There were no contingency plans, no promises he could follow. He didn't know what to do.

What about the house? Was Jon meant to protect it? Would Miss Jones take it away now that his father had left? He didn't want to leave. He couldn't leave. He curls up tighter with his blanket, trying to block out all the fears and doubts that plague his mind. Everything was so uncertain and Jon . . . Jon was scared. He didn't know how to stop. ]

Comments

[spellslots]

Hell if I know, but we'll figure it out. There's a lotta people that care about you and most of 'em are probably smarter than me.

[He's not going to lie to Jon, even if maybe that would be easier in the short term.]

Right now, I'm just gonna stay with you, yeah? You won't be alone.

[supersweet]

[ Jon's grateful even if he can't fully voice it. Taako, after all, was part of his father's inner circle, a person his father trusted completely. He rubs his eyes, looking faintly peaky. ]

Did you bring any cookies?

[spellslots]

We're fresh outta cookies, sorry, but if you're hungry we can whip something up. What about pancakes?

[They're quick and easy and knowing Clark, the appropriate supplies will be in the kitchen.]

[supersweet]

[ Jon considers this quietly before nodding. ]

Pancakes sound good.

[spellslots]

Pancakes it is, we can even put choc chips in 'em if you want.

[He puts an arm around Jon's shoulders to lead him into the kitchen; Taako has no illusions of being all that good at comforting people, but he has a lot of memories of Lup holding his hand or resting her knee against his or idly playing with his hair, whenever he was upset.

Physical contact helps, a reminder that they're not alone.]

[supersweet]

[ Some of the tension leaves Jon's shoulders at the prolonged contact. But he also seems to have retreated into himself, baleful and wary. None of his experiences with disappearing parents have been positive. ]

Thanks. You don't have to stay long if you don't want to.

[spellslots]

[He guides Jon to a chair in the kitchen, gently nudging him to sit, and then crouches down in front of him so they're level with each other.]

Listen, I'm not gonna pretend like I'm any good at this shit, but the least I can do is be here, so that's what I'm gonna do. As long as you need me around.

[supersweet]

[ His fingers curl around the seat tightly as if it's all he can do not to topple over. ]

How am I supposed to know that? How am I supposed to know — [ And his voice breaks. ] — any of this?

[spellslots]

[Oh.]

Because Lup is here, I won't leave her.

[Maybe it's not the answer that Jon wants to hear; it's not a reassurance that Taako would stay for him, but he'll stay all the same. Not forever, but... he can just hope that Jon has the chance to return home before he does.]

[supersweet]

He probably won't even remember me.

[ After all, Jon wasn't really his son. Jon didn't even know if he could be born in that other reality or whether his parents would really come together. Nothing is fixed, even if Clark Kent and Lois Lane have always come together in some shape or home. ]

[spellslots]

[Pointing out that he won't remember any of them isn't really fair, right now. Just like it won't help to point out that at least Jon will see a version of Clark again. Now isn't really the time to be petty and selfish.]

He'll remember.

[Taako reaches out to tap a finger over Jon's heart.]

I remembered Lup, even when I couldn't.

[supersweet]

[ This is true. Still . . . ]

Wasn't that because of some . . . magic spell thing?

[spellslots]

Does that shit really matter? Family is family, it always will be.

[Even if there are alternate universes and magic voidfish, it doesn't make a difference.]

[supersweet]

. . . Yeah.

[ Jon can admit that, a quiet sigh. It's true. They were family, even if Jon was different and his father was different. ]

[spellslots]

There we go.

[He leans forward to press a quick kiss to Jon's hair, then moves away to start gathering ingredients for those pancakes.]

I know this is gonna suck, and it's gonna suck for a while, but it'll get easier.

[supersweet]

Really?

[ Jon can't quite picture it. But then again, he's never pictured himself alone before. ]

[spellslots]

[He hesitates on his answer for a second, but... he wants to keep being honest with Jon. That seems important.]

I've lost a lotta people, pumpkin, and most of them weren't just going back home. It gets easier.

[supersweet]

[ He isn't sure. Jon has never grappled with loss on such a level before. Granted, his world was small before he came to Riverview. There were friends he made that have left, but his parents were — have always been immovable. Steady. ]

I . . . just don't know. My world was always so small.

[spellslots]

Most worlds are, when you're young.

[Not a kid, because he tries not to be dismissive of Jon's experiences, but at the end of the day, it's not surprising that his world is small when he's only lived a little over a decade.]

[supersweet]

[ Jon nods. It's true and he doesn't feel it rankle like it usually does when his age is brought up. Instead he curls his arms around his legs, trying to shut himself in for a little while. ]