Chapter 1
"T.V./Tailed Beast/God Talking"
Powers
(Location change/Time skip/Flashback)
"Talking"
'Thinking/Internal Talking'
(Location Unknown)
A portal opened and outstepped Aito. Before he could even say anything, The Presence appeared.
Aito barely had time to process the shift in reality before he felt it—the presence before him wasn’t just powerful. It was absolute. The air thickened, as if the very fabric of existence itself held its breath in reverence. Before him, towering yet without true form, The Presence simply was. Not just an entity, but the source of all things. The light and the shadow. The beginning and the end.
Aito instinctively straightened, his senses overwhelmed by an energy he couldn't quantify, categorize, or resist. Even with his power, his mind struggled to fully comprehend what stood before him.
Then, The Presence spoke.
"You have crossed the boundary of your world, drawn here by forces you do not yet understand."
The voice was not sound, nor was it something he heard with his ears. It simply was, resonating through his very being.
Aito’s instincts screamed at him to be cautious, but his curiosity burned just as brightly. He clenched his fists. 'Stay calm. Think. Process.'
"What is this place?" Aito asked, his voice steady despite the weight pressing against his soul. "Why am I here?"
The Presence did not move, did not shift, and yet Aito felt its infinite awareness settle upon him. It was as if the very cosmos regarded him with interest.
"Because you were meant to be. Your soul, there is another, unique to this multiverse. You wish to fuse, merge, and become one with them. Live out their life alongside them. You hold no hostile intent. You wish to gift your abilities, knowledge, and the entity within you to your echo."
Aito's eyes flickered with a complex storm of emotions—curiosity, wariness, and something deeper, something unspoken. The Presence's words carried weight beyond what he had anticipated. The idea of merging with another version of himself, of his soul intertwining with a younger consciousness, was not something he had ever considered.
He straightened his posture, his gaze steady. "And if I refuse?" His voice did not waver, but there was an edge to it—a test, a challenge to the absolute force before him.
The Presence did not answer immediately, but Aito could feel the response forming in the space between existence and nonexistence, as if the concept of choice itself was being weighed.
"You do not refuse." The Presence finally stated. "Because you have already decided. It is why you are here."
Aito exhaled sharply. That was... unsettlingly true. His subconscious had already begun accepting the process before his rational mind could fully grasp the enormity of it. The desire to pass on what he had gained, to ensure that his existence had purpose beyond himself, had already taken root. He had given Jonah a gift—his knowledge, his abilities, his power. But now, he was being called to give more.
His very being.
"And my echo?" Aito asked, his voice quieter now, more contemplative. "His soul—what happens to him?"
"He will remain as he is." The Presence answered. "His identity untouched. His essence unbroken. You are not replacing him. You are becoming one. A convergence of paths, not an erasure."
Aito considered that. It was not possession. Not domination. A true merging. He would not simply live inside Jonah as some lingering ghost of another reality. They would be one. Jonah Kent, with his own life, his own experiences, but with the added foundation of Aito’s existence interwoven into his being.
The weight of it settled on him, but he did not resist it.
"And Kurama?" he pressed. "He is part of this, too."
"He will remain with you, as he always has. His fate is bound to yours."
Aito sighed. He glanced down at his hands, flexing his fingers, feeling the immeasurable power that coursed through him. It had taken lifetimes—two hundred and seventy years of battles, victories, losses—to reach this point. And now?
Now, he would begin again.
"Then... let's do this." he murmured.
The Presence did not nod, did not move, but Aito felt something shift in the very fabric of existence itself. A pull, gentle yet undeniable, like a tide beckoning him forward.
'Kurama, help them be the best that they can be, as best you can. I don't know how their world will be different, but don't push them towards an upbringing like mine; let them be different from me.' Aito said internally
"Tch... You're still a sentimental idiot, Aito. But... I get it."
"They aren't you. And that’s probably a good thing. You clawed your way through hell to survive, but that doesn’t mean they should have to. If you want me to guide them without turning them into weapons, then fine. I’ll teach them to stand, not just to fight. I’ll make them strong in their own way."
"But don’t expect me to coddle them. I’m not their babysitter. I’ll push them—just enough to sharpen their claws, not break them. They’ll have their own path. And I’ll make damn sure it’s one they can survive."
"But Aito... if they ever start walking into the same darkness you did… I will drag them back, kicking and screaming if I have to. That’s the promise I’ll make to you."
His vision blurred, the reality around him folding inward, collapsing in a spiraling vortex of light and shadow. He felt himself unravel—not in pain, not in loss, but in transition. A great cosmic thread being woven into a new tapestry.
And then—
Darkness.
A moment of silence. Of stillness. Of nothingness.
Then a heartbeat.
Not his.
A child's.
It was slow, steady, strong. Aito could feel it as if it were his own. His consciousness, vast and old, compacted, drawn into something smaller, younger, untouched by time’s burdens. He could feel warmth, a strange sense of weightlessness.
He could feel a presence. Jonah.
Their souls were intertwined now. Not a battle. Not a struggle. A joining.
Memories whispered at the edges of his mind, distant and hazy, waiting to be reawakened when the time was right. For now, he was quiet, a silent guardian within the newborn soul.
And Kurama... he was there too. Diminished but present, his slumbering form a coiled ember in the depths of this new existence.
Aito did not resist the descent into sleep.
Jonah would wake when it was time.
And so would he.
(Metropolis – Kent Home – 2021)
"Get 'em while they're hot." Clark said before placing a plate with scrambled eggs on it in front of Jonathan, who was sitting at the dinner table
"Thanks, Dad." Jonathan responded as Jonah, his and Jordan's older brother by two years, sat across the table from him
Jonah had brown hair like Jordan and Jonathan but blue eyes like his mother. He stands slightly taller than Clark, at six feet two inches tall.
"More juice?" Clark asked, walking back into the kitchen
"Uh, I think I'm good." Jonathan answered as Lois walked into the dining room
"Little help?" Lois asked, turning her back to Clark as he zipped up her shirt, "Your mom called while you were in the shower. She wants us to visit."
"Are we going to Grandma's?" Jonathan asked
"I think we're overdue." Clark answered
"Great. Smallville." Jonathan commented before he picked his fork up, "A place where you can spend a full year in one afternoon."
"It's not that bad." Lois defended
"I'm not opposed to it." Jonah commented without looking up at his phone, "It'll be nice to see Izzy face-to-face again instead of over a computer screen."
Just then, Jordan walks in carrying a binder to put in his backpack, getting Jonathan's attention.
"Whoa. Is that how you're going to dress today?" Jonathan asked, causing Jonah to look up from his phone at Jordan, "Somebody got the punch-me-in-the-face memo."
"Jonathan, be nice." Jonah warned
"Should I dress like you? Like some sort of human participation trophy?" Jordan asked sarcastically
"No, but you could like watch a HowToBasic video on style." Jonathan answered
"Enough. All three of you, go. Your ride's here." Lois commanded
"Remind me again why Jonah is starting out in the same grade as us despite being a year older." Jonathan said
Clark sighed, already sensing where this was going. "Jonah is starting in the same grade as you because that's how it worked out when we put him back in school."
Jonathan scoffed, still spearing at his eggs with his fork. "Yeah, but, like, technically, shouldn't he be a sophomore? I mean, he's a year older."
"I was out of school for two year." Jonah reminded him, finally looking up from his phone. "Dad and Mom decided it'd be easier to just put me in with you guys instead of throwing me back in with strangers."
Jonathan made a face. "I guess that makes sense."
Clark arched an eyebrow. "And that's the end of the discussion, right?"
"Let's go before Mom actually kicks us out the door." Jonah suggested, already heading for the door
"Love you guys." Lois said as the three of them headed for the front door
"Love you." They responded
"Good luck today, guys." Clark called out
"Thanks, Dad." They responded as they walked out the door
Lois turned around to face Clark seeing the look on his face.
"You're worried about Jordan." Lois asked/stated
"I tried talking to him last night, but he was pretty upset." Clark answered
"Well, if you knew where you really were…your parents told you about your shared heritage when you were six. Jonah knows." Lois tried reasoning
"That was different. Jonah is different. I lived on a farm. I had powers." Clark defended
"You don't think Jonathan's got something?" Lois asked, "I mean, Jonah is a wild card with stuff you don't even have, and even your Dad doesn't fully understand his abilities."
"Test at the fortress said it was unlikely." Clark answered
"He's about to be starting quarterback at one of the most competitive high schools in the nation… as a freshman." Lois defended
"Yeah. That doesn't mean he has powers. Jonah is different; we know that because of his incident. The entire reason that we pulled him out of kindergarten and we handed him over to your Dad. We were and still are in completely uncharted territory with Jonah." Clark stated
"Have you seen him throw a deep route?" Lois asked giving him a sideways look
"And what about Jordan?" Clark asked, "All it's gonna do is make him feel more alien than he already does. Trust me, I've been there."
Lois just sighed, "We're late."
(A week later – Smallville – Kent Farm)
Jordan and Jonathan are sitting at one of the few tables set up on their phones when Jonah walks up with three plates. He places one down in front of Jordan and hands another to Jonathan, causing Jordan to look up at him.
"What's this?" Jordan asked
"It's 1:00." Jonah answered, "You need to take your medication with something. And unless you have eaten while I wasn't looking, you have an empty stomach right now."
"Who are you? Mom?" Jordan asked, causing Jonah to smile
"No, I'm your oldest brother. Someone's gotta watch out for you; Mom and Dad have enough on their plates right now, so that leaves me." Jonah answered
Several moments later, Jonathan looks up before lightly hitting Jordan in the arm, getting his attention.
"Remember that girl from that summer we stayed here?" Jonathan asked, causing Jordan to lower his phone
"Sarah Cushing?" Jordan asked
"Yeah." Jonathan answered before taking a bit, "She's here."
"Really? Where?" Jordan asked before Jonah turned around, spotting the Cushing family walking up
"50 yards and approaching." Jonathan answered, causing Jordan to turn around
Jonathan waited several moments before lightly hitting Jordan again, "If you hurry, you'll have time to go inside and change into…"
"Jonathan, don't you finish that sentence." Jonah warned as Jonathan got up from the table and started making his way over to where their parent's were
Jonah was right behind Jonathan as Jordan took a few moments to just look/stare at Sarah before quickly following after Jonah and Jonathan.
"Lois, it's great to see you." Lana said, hugging Lois, "I'm sorry it's under these circumstances."
"Thank you." Lois said, releasing Lana from the hug as Jonah, Jonathan, and Jordan walked up behind, "You remember our boys, our twins, Jonathan and Jordan, and our eldest, Jonah."
Jonah was looking at Isabel "Izzy" Cushing with a smile on his face, giving her a quick 'hello' as she smiled back. Jordan looked at Sarah, who gave her a 'hi'.
"These are our girls." Kyle introduced, "The littlest one here is Sophie. And, uh, well, the one with the perma-scowl over there, that's Sarah, and the one next to her with the smile is our oldest Isabel."
"I'm really sorry about your grandma. She was really special. Even my Dad liked her, and he hates everyone, so." Sarah said before Izzy elbowed her
"House full of girls. Someone's always pissed at you." Kyle commented
"Mommy." Sophie said, getting Lana and Kyle's attention
"Mm-hmm?" Lana asked
"That's him." Sophie answered
"Well, your daddy and I went to high school with Mr. Kent." Lana said
"You dated him. That's why Daddy got mad when he saw you on his Facebook page." Sophie said
"Okay, sweets, why don't you go play?" Lana suggested gently 'shoving' her along/away, causing everyone to chuckle and Lana to sigh, "How are you holding up?"
"I could really use a drink, actually." Clark answered
"See, now you're talking. Lead the way." Kyle said before the adult walked away as Kyle gave a quick 'Be Good' to Sarah and Izzy
Once the adults had entirely 'left' Izzy walked up to Jonah and gave him a hug, which he returned, wrapping his arms around her.
"I didn't think you guys would've remembered me from that summer." Sarah commented
"Of course we would, I mean, y—but you changed your everything." Jordan said, stumbling over his words
"What my brother's trying to say is that whatever you're doing is—it's totally working for you." Jonathan 'interpreted'
"He means you are still as beautiful as he remembers." Jonah said, causing blood to rush to Jordan's cheeks and dusting them pink
"Well, we still get puberty in Smallville. Although cell service sucks, so." Sarah responded
"Yeah, no, I've been trying to get on all morning. I think there's something wrong with the router." Jordan said
"It probably just needs to be reset." Jonah said
"Jonah, it's in the barn." Jordan stated as if it were a 'sacred' place
"Ooh, mysterious. What's in the barn?" Sarah asked
"Our Dad doesn't like us in there. He says it's full of stuff that can kill us." Jordan answered
"Yeah, when we were, like, eight." Jonathan said
"Well, as a member of the FFA, I think I can keep you guys safe." Sarah said with a smile as she started to turn and inch toward the barn.
"What's the FFA?" Jonathan asked
"Future Farmers of America." Izzy answered as she unwrapped herself from Jonah and grabbed his hand, pulling him towards the barn
Within seconds, they had reached the barn and entered. Sarah began looking around at the various pieces of equipment inside while trying to find the router.
"Yeah, your Dad's right. Pretty much everything here can kill you." Sarah commented
Jonathan started looking around for the router, spotting a piece of equipment, and pointed to it, "What's that thing?"
"Oh, that's a hay raker." Sarah answered, "I guess you guys don't see much of this in Metropolis."
"No, but our dad told us all these stories about growing up here." Jonathan stated
"Tell you it sucks?" Sarah asked
"Actually, I think he kinda loved it." Jordan answered
"Dad did and probably still does love it." Jonah stated
"Can't be that bad. I mean, it's more the people that make up a place, right?" Jonathan asked, causing Sarah to turn around
"Wow. Metropolis boys are really starting to lose their game." Sarah said
"Relax. I'm--I'm taken. I didn't mean it like that." Jonathan said, backpedaling, "I'm just saying—well, I guess I'm trying to say that we're only here for a few days, and I figured that we kinda need someone to show us around."
"Mm. Okay. Uh, phone." Sarah said before both twins started moving to get their phones out causing Sarah to look at Jonathan, "Oh, no, not you."
"You can show me around." Jonah whispered to Izzy, squeezing her hand
"You bet." Izzy whispered back, squeezing his hand
Sarah then looked at Jordan, "You."
Jonathan then resumed looking around for the router. Jordan quickly handed Sarah his phone as if he were in some sort of trance. She quickly grabbed his phone and began putting her number in.
"Uhh. There's a bonfire tomorrow at the old Shuster Mine. Hit me up if you wanna go, but I can't guarantee I won't get you into a little bit of trouble." Sarah said, the last part with a smile that Jordan returned
"Guys. Found the router." Jonathan announced pointing to the rafters
"Oh." Jordan said before everyone but Jonah started chuckling
"What the hell was Grandma thinking, putting it up there?" Jonathan asked before Jonah let go of Izzy's hand
"I got it." Jordan said as he made his way over to the wooden ladder leading up to the router
"Maybe I should go up instead, Jordan, I have a longer wingspan." Jonah suggested
"I got it." Jordan said as he began climbing the ladder
"Oh, Jordan, be careful." Sarah warned as Jordan quickly climbed up the ladder
After reaching the top, Jordan placed one foot on a bundle of metal pipes, which allowed him to reach over to the router while keeping one hand on the ladder.
"Careful." Jonah said as Jordan began fiddling with the router
"Still not working." Sarah said
"Got it." Jordan said
Just then, the foot on the bundle of metal pipes slipped, causing his hand on the ladder to slip, causing him to fall onto the bundle, bounce off, and drop to the ground. Jonathan quickly made his way over to Jordan, who was gasping for air. Just then, Jonah felt a tingling at the back of his head that he had become accustomed to when danger was nearby. He began to look around before he heard the wood snap, causing him to look up mere moments before the bundle of metal pipes began plummeting towards where Jonathan and Jordan were.
'Knew I should have gone up there instead, forgive me Dad.' Jonah thought before he raced over to where Jordan and Jonathan were with just enough time to shield them with his body while bracing himself against the ground so he wouldn't fall on and crush them.
"Oh, my God." Sarah and Izzy said in panic before they both sprinted out of the barn, "Help! Somebody help!"
Clark and Lois, who had heard the metal pipes drop, had just gotten outside.
"Help! The boys! They're hurt!" Sarah and Izzy shouted, running towards everyone else as Clark booked it over to the barn
"Go get medical supplies." Lois ordered as she followed after Clark
As soon as Clark reached the entrance of the Barn, he saw the pile of metal pipes. With a quick glance of his Thermal Vision, he saw three figures under the pile. He quickly picked up and tossed a metal pipe into the corner of the Barn. By then, Lois had reached the barn entrance and promptly made her way over to Clark. When she got over to Clark, they saw Jonah using his body to shield Jordan and Jonathan the best he could under the weight of the pipes.
Jonah groaned slightly while Jonathan and Jordan, terrified and bewildered, looked back at Clark and Lois.
"It was Jordan's idea." Jonathan said
"Sorry, Dad." Jonah let out
Clark and Lois just looked at one another.
(Hours later)
"You're saying that all Jordan has is a mild concussion while Jonah only has some bruising despite a stack of metal pipes falling on him?" Jonathan asked
"They're both really lucky." Clark answered
"Little rest, and you should be fine." Benny stated before he and Clark got up
"Thanks, Benny." Clark said
"Yeah." Benny responded before he started walking towards the front door
"It's good to see you." Clark said
"No worries." Benny responded
"Thank you." Clark said
"Best to the family." Benny responded
"Thank you." Clark said before Benny opened the door and walked out
"Come on, boys. Let's get upstairs. You've had a long day." Lois instructed/ordered
Jordan and Jonah got up from the couch and began walking towards the stairs to the second story with Jonathan right behind them. No words were said, Jordan and Jonathan passed by first, with Jonah planning on following behind, but he felt his parents would want to talk with him. His suspicions were proven right when Jordan and Jonathan passed by, but Clark motioned for him to stay.
'Here comes the reprimanding.' Jonah thought
Once Jordan and Jonathan were upstairs and sure they were in their room, Clark and Lois made their way out onto the porch, with Jonah following behind.
Clark leaned against the railing while Lois stood beside him, and Jonah stood with his arms crossed.
"How could you let this happen?" Clark asked, barely above a whisper, "Why were you even in the barn when we told the twins before that it's dangerous in there?"
"Sarah Cushing kinda nullified that when she said, 'As a member of the FFA, I think I can keep you guys safe.' And began making her way towards the barn. Sarah made a comment about the cell service being crap, and Jordan said he had been trying to connect to the WiFi all day and that it was probably something with the router. I said it probably just needed to be reset, and Jordan said that it was in the barn, prompting Sarah to ask what was so mysterious about the barn. Jordan made your argument which Sarah instantly nullified. I offered to go up the ladder to fidget with the router instead of Jordan but he insisted and if I had pushed it might have raised some eyebrows. The only reason I was able to get there in time and shield them was I felt that usual tingle in the back of my mind." Jonah explained
Clark and Lois exchanged a look, both processing Jonah’s explanation. Clark let out a slow breath, running a hand through his hair, while Lois crossed her arms.
"You should’ve known better." Lois finally said, her voice firm but not unkind. "I get that you didn’t want to raise suspicions, but you still put yourself in danger."
Jonah shrugged, still standing with his arms crossed. "Would you rather I let Jordan climb up there? If I had pushed too hard, Sarah would’ve started asking questions—she's already too curious for her own good."
Clark narrowed his eyes, his concern not fading. "You still shouldn’t have been there when the pipes fell. You’re lucky you weren’t hurt worse."
Jonah sighed. "Dad, I’m fine. You know I can take a hit better than Jordan or Jonathan. And if I wasn’t there, they might not have been so lucky."
Clark’s jaw tightened at that, but he couldn’t argue the point. Lois, however, wasn’t letting this slide so easily.
"You can’t keep throwing yourself into danger like this." she said, her tone softer but laced with concern. "I know you feel responsible for them, but you're just as important as your brothers."
Jonah exhaled, looking away for a moment before muttering, "Doesn't feel like it sometimes."
Clark's expression softened at that. He stepped forward, placing a hand on Jonah’s shoulder. "Son, we’re not mad at you for protecting them. We’re worried because we can’t lose you."
Jonah nodded but didn’t say anything. He understood where they were coming from, but they didn’t understand the weight he carried.
Lois sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Just… be more careful, okay? You scared the hell out of us."
"Yeah." Jonah said, his voice quieter. "I’ll try."
Clark studied him for a moment, then gave a small nod. "Go get some rest."
"The twins might start asking questions, Jordan even more so, questions that you haven't wanted to answer for a while, Dad. Eventually, you are going to have to tell them the truth. I won't always compromise my relationships for the sake of this secret. Even I have a breaking point, and my relationships are it." Jonah said before he opened the door and headed for the stairs
Clark watched as the door closed, his brow furrowed. Lois let out a breath, rubbing her temples.
“He’s not wrong." she admitted. “Jordan’s going to keep pushing for answers. Jonathan too.”
Clark nodded, his jaw tight. “I know. But I wanted them to have a normal life for as long as possible.”
Lois gave him a pointed look. “We both did, Clark. But Jonah’s been carrying this secret on his own for years. You know that’s not fair to him.”
Clark exhaled, crossing his arms. “I just—” He stopped, running a hand through his hair. “I wanted them to be kids a little longer.”
“They still can be." Lois said softly, stepping closer. “But Jonah’s different, and you can’t pretend otherwise. He’s been handling this since he was four, Clark. And Sam trained him to handle it alone.”
Clark’s fists clenched at the mention of her father. “Yeah. And I’m still not okay with that.”
Lois crossed her arms, her voice sharp. “Neither am I. But we let it happen because we thought it was what was best. And maybe it was, back then. But now?” She shook her head. “We have to stop treating Jonah like some soldier and start treating him like our son.”
Clark sighed, nodding reluctantly. “You’re right.”
“I usually am." Lois muttered.
Clark glanced toward the stairs. “We’ll talk to them. Soon.”
Lois arched an eyebrow. “How soon?”
Clark didn’t answer.
"You saw how confused they are." Lois persisted
Clark sighed and ran a hand down his face, his frustration evident but laced with an exhaustion that Lois recognized all too well.
“I know, Lois." he said finally, his voice quieter. “I know I have to tell them. I just…” He exhaled sharply. “I wanted them to find out in a way that wasn’t—”
“Catastrophic?” Lois finished for him, arching an eyebrow. “Because I hate to break it to you, Clark, but that ship sailed when the barn almost killed them.”
Clark shot her a look, but he couldn’t argue. The near-disaster had brought their carefully built house of secrets to the brink of collapse. And Jonah? Jonah had been holding up the foundation for years.
Lois rubbed her temples, stepping closer to Clark. “Jonah’s patience is wearing thin. You saw it, Clark. He’s tired. He’s been juggling this secret on his own, trying to protect them from it, while also protecting himself. That’s too much for a fifteen-year-old.”
Clark’s jaw clenched. “I never wanted that for him.”
“I know." Lois said, softer this time. “But we have to stop pretending we can keep everything from them. Jordan especially—he’s already suspicious.”
Clark inhaled slowly, steadying himself. “Tomorrow." he said. “I’ll talk to them tomorrow.”
Lois studied him, gauging his resolve, then nodded. “Okay.”
There was a beat of silence before Clark glanced towards the stairs. “And Jonah?”
Lois huffed. “He needs more than just reassurance, Clark. He needs to know he’s not alone in this. He needs you to acknowledge that he’s different.”
Clark closed his eyes briefly, then nodded. “I’ll talk to him too.”
(Upstairs – The Kent Boys' Room)
Jonah shut the door behind him, letting out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. Jonathan and Jordan were already inside, sitting on their respective beds, their faces reflecting the storm of confusion and unease that had settled in the house.
“You good?” Jonathan asked, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.
Jonah gave a short nod. “Yeah.”
Jordan scoffed. “Bull.”
Jonah exhaled sharply through his nose. “I mean, relatively speaking.”
Jordan’s eyes narrowed slightly, and Jonah could see the gears turning in his brother’s head. He knew Jordan wasn’t going to let this go. He was too sharp, too determined to unravel the mystery that had been hanging around their family for years.
“What the hell happened in that barn?” Jordan pressed. “How the hell did you not get crushed by those pipes? You were right in the middle of it, Jonah. I saw you.”
Jonah stiffened. “I got lucky.”
Jordan shook his head. “No way. No one’s that lucky.”
Jonathan shifted uncomfortably. “Jordan—”
“No, Jonathan." Jordan interrupted, eyes locked on Jonah. “I’ve been letting stuff slide for a long time, but tonight? That was different. You got hit with a literal pile of steel and walked away with nothing but a couple of bruises.”
Jonah felt the weight of Jordan’s stare, of the growing realization pressing against his carefully maintained walls. He knew this moment was coming, but that didn’t make it any easier.
Jonathan sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Look, man, I don’t know what’s going on, but if there’s something you’re not telling us—”
“There is.” Jonah cut in before he could stop himself.
Both his brothers fell silent, their eyes widening slightly at his sudden admission.
Jonah inhaled deeply, choosing his next words carefully. “There’s a lot you don’t know. A lot Dad hasn’t told you.”
Jonathan frowned. “Like what?”
Jonah hesitated. The instinct to protect the secret, to shield them from the weight of it, was still there. But so was the exhaustion. The exhaustion of carrying it alone.
Jordan leaned forward. “Jonah… what aren’t you telling us?”
For a moment, Jonah considered pushing it off again, deflecting, making some excuse. But then he saw the look in Jordan’s eyes—determined, desperate for answers. And Jonathan, ever the steady one, watching him closely.
The words formed before he could stop them.
“You need to talk to Dad." Jonah said. “Because whatever I tell you—it won’t be enough. Not anymore.”
Jonathan and Jordan exchanged glances, realization dawning between them. This wasn’t just about the barn. This was bigger. And their father? He was at the center of it.
Jonah sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Just… be ready. Because once you know, there’s no going back.”
Silence stretched between them, thick with tension, before Jonathan finally spoke.
“Tomorrow, then.”
Jonah nodded.
“Tomorrow.”
"If not Clark, then Jonah, I've been helping him hone his abilities and train him for years." Jonah heard his grandfather say from downstairs
"I have to use the bathroom. You guys should get in bed and get some sleep." Jonah said before opening the door and 'making his way to the bathroom' where instead he stood at the top of the staircase.
(Meanwhile – Kitchen/Dining Room)
"If not Clark, then Jonah, I've been helping him hone his abilities and train him for years." Sam suggested
Lois's expression hardened. "No. Absolutely not."
"Lois—" Sam started, but she cut him off.
"He's fifteen, Dad. He’s not some soldier you can deploy whenever you feel like it." Her voice was sharp, but there was an undertone of exhaustion, grief, and worry. "Clark and I agreed—Jonah should have a choice about how he uses his abilities. He’s not just some weapon to point at a threat."
"I'm not saying he is." Sam countered his tone firm but measured. "But he’s already ahead of the curve—more than even Clark was at his age. And from what we've seen tonight, this thing we’re dealing with is powerful. We don’t have the luxury of keeping him on the sidelines."
Jonah's grip tightened on the staircase railing as he listened. His Supernatural Awareness hummed like static at the edges of his perception—a warning.
‘I knew Grandpa was pushing for this, but hearing him say it outright…’
His jaw clenched. He wanted to believe that Sam genuinely cared about him, that this was about protecting people and not just another mission. But part of him couldn't shake the feeling that, to his grandfather, this was just another tactical decision.
Lois exhaled sharply. "Clark just lost his mother. The boys just lost their grandmother. This family needs time, Dad. We need Clark here, and that includes Jonah. I won’t let you drag him into whatever fight you’re gearing up for."
Sam sighed, rubbing his temple. "Lois, I get it, but you’re being short-sighted—"
"Am I?" Lois crossed her arms. "You talk about him being ahead of the curve, but he’s still a kid. A kid who's spent years being trained instead of getting to be normal."
Jonah swallowed hard. That hit deeper than he wanted to admit.
His grandfather exhaled through his nose. "Normal isn't an option for him, Lois. You know that as well as I do."
Just then, they heard the wood on the staircase creak from the stress of Jonah's grip.
'Well, there goes that, they know someone's here.' Jonah thought before he made his way down the stairs and into the kitchen, "I heard Grandpa say my name from in our room and decided to see what was being talked about. I both did and didn't mean to eavesdrop. I'm willing to help if Grandpa needs help and you don't want Dad to suit up. I mean, I have these gifts that not even Dad has. Why not put them to good use?"
Lois’ jaw tightened. “Jonah, this isn’t just about your abilities—it’s about what it means to be part of this family, to have a life outside of this. You shouldn’t feel like you have to throw yourself into danger just because you can.”
Jonah met her gaze, his expression calm but determined. “I know, Mom. And I get where you’re coming from, I do. But I’m not a little kid anymore. You and Dad made sure I had a choice—well, this is me making one.”
Sam folded his arms, nodding approvingly. “He understands what’s at stake.”
Lois shot her father a glare before turning back to Jonah. “And what happens when something goes wrong? You’re still learning control, Jonah. Your dad—” Her voice hitched slightly, her grief over Martha Kent’s passing still raw. “Your dad has spent years mastering his powers. You’re different, and we don’t even know the full extent of what you can do yet.”
Jonah clenched his fists, his Supernatural Awareness buzzing faintly in the back of his mind, an almost instinctive warning. He wasn’t sure if it was because of the tension in the room or something else.
“I know I don’t have everything figured out." he admitted. “But I’ve been training. With Grandpa, with Dad. I can handle myself. And if this thing is as strong as you’re saying, don’t you think we need all the help we can get?”
Clark, who had been silent for most of the conversation, finally spoke. His voice was steady, but there was an unmistakable weight behind it. “Jonah, we don’t take risks lightly in this family. It’s not just about having powers—it’s about responsibility. You’ve trained, yes, but combat experience is different. This isn’t a simulation or some controlled sparring session.”
Jonah exhaled. He knew Clark wasn’t wrong. His Telekinesis was still rough, his Heat Vision unpredictable at times, and he hadn’t even unlocked the full scope of his psionic potential. But none of that changed the fact that he could help.
“I’m not saying I go charging in alone." Jonah said carefully, glancing between his parents. “But if something happens, if you and Grandpa are both out there—what happens to Mom? To Jonathan and Jordan? What if whatever’s out there comes here? What if I need to step up?”
Lois’ lips pressed together into a thin line, conflict flashing in her eyes. She hated that he had a point.
Clark sighed, rubbing his face. “If—and that’s a big if—we let you get involved, it’ll be on our terms. Not Grandpa’s, not the DoD’s.”
Sam scowled but didn’t argue.
“Training sessions don’t count as experience." Clark continued. “So if you want to be involved, you’re going to train harder. No cutting corners. And if I say you’re not ready, you listen. Understood?”
Jonah nodded. “Understood.”
Lois exhaled sharply, clearly unhappy with the compromise, but also recognized that Jonah was too stubborn to be sidelined forever.
“This isn’t a decision I like." she admitted. “But I trust you, Jonah. Just… promise me you won’t push yourself too hard.”
Jonah gave her a small, reassuring smile. “I promise.”
Sam clapped his hands together. “Then we should start planning. There’s no telling when this thing will show up again.”
Lois sighed and muttered under her breath, “God help me, I’m outnumbered.”
Jonah smirked slightly, but the weight of the conversation still hung heavy. The reality of what he was stepping into was sinking in.
He wasn’t just offering to help—he was taking his first step toward something bigger.
And there was no turning back now.
A/N:
Jonathan's appearance matches his season 3 and 4 actor.
Also I said Psionic because I couldn't really find another word to describe them/it
I just had to get this out of my system as well. Same case as The Other Son of Krypton.