Chapter 19 “Fathers”

Clark Kent was walking around with a spring in his step these days. Things were going very well for him lately. Better than he could ever have hoped when he left, almost six years ago.

The last weeks he had been spending two or three days a week with Lois and Jason. And he savoured every second of it.

Lois considered him a good friend she could be herself with, and he and Jason got along really well. But that was as Clark Kent. As Superman he was a little less successful in the Lane-household.

Lois was so much warmer to Clark than she was to Superman. Clark had been afraid that maybe Lois was less than pleased with him for failing to save Richard, but after last evening’s chat in the kitchen, it was pretty obvious that she still had a crush on him.

Jason had never treated Superman with anything but worshipping adoration, but it was rather impersonal and Clark had the feeling that Jason too preferred the man in the ill-fitting suit over the man in the blue suit.

Clark’s mind wandered to the previous evening. He had had quite a serious talk with Jason about Richard. It was a subject Jason had never really breached with Clark, but somehow he had been willing to discuss it with Superman.

Clark’s smile turned into a frown as he recalled the expression on his son’s face as he explained that, even with superpowers, it was impossible to save everybody and that sometimes people you care about just die.

He had even told Jason about his father, Jonathan, and he could have sworn that he saw Jason’s lower lip tremble.

Clark was shaken out of his thoughts when his sensitive ears picked up the sound of two familiar heartbeats approaching. He x-rayed his surroundings over the rim of his glasses.

Bingo! Two of his favourite people in the world were coming his way. Clark schooled his face into the usual goofy grin as Lois and Jason stepped out of the elevator.

Lois was immediately pulled into conversation by Jimmy, but Jason made a beeline for Clark.

“ Hi Mr Clark!”

Clark couldn’t help but beam at the little boy.

“Hello there, Jason. Did you have a fun day at school?”

Jason nodded happily.

“U-huh. Mrs Gills made us say the alphabet today. Do you want to hear it?”

“Bring it on.” Clark smiled.

“A … b … c … - ”

Lois disengaged herself from Jimmy and walked over, rolling her eyes as she heard what her son was saying.

“ - … g … h … i … - ”

“Sorry about that, Clark,” She said, nodding at Jason. “He’s been reciting the alphabet the entire ride to office, too.”

“ - … n … o … q … er, no … p, and then q … - ”

Clark grinned.

“That’s a good thing. It means he’ll never forget.”

“ - … x … y … z!”

Clark applauded and Jason glowed.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m writing a story for the newspaper.”

“Can I help?”

Clark pretended to size Jason up.

“Well …”

“Please?”

“I think that, now that you know the alphabet, you can help me type.”

Jason cheered and Clark pulled him onto his lap.

“I say which letter we need, and you type it, OK?”

Jason nodded his head vigorously.

“OK … r … a little to the side, there … e … yes, that’s the one … c … o … - ”

“Well, what do we have here?” Perry had joined the small group.

“I’m writing a story!” Jason said brightly, and Perry laughed.

“So I see. Do I have to pay you now?”

Jason shook his head.

“I’m for free.”

“Good.” Perry ruffled Jason’s hair and continued his path to his office, wading through the desks.

“ - … n … down, down … and then the c again…”

“Daddy wrote stories here, too.” Jason suddenly piped up, and the smiles on Lois’ and Clark’s faces fell.

“Yes, he did.” Lois said quietly.

Both of them… The thought quickly shot through Clark’s mind.

Suddenly Jason twisted in his seat and observed Clark closely, before tugging on his mother’s sleeve.

“Mommy? Can I have Clark as my new Daddy?”

Clark gasped in shock and Lois’ mouth, just like those of a couple of bystanders, dropped open.

“He’s just like Daddy! He’s nice, he takes me to the park, he writes stories for the newspaper. And you like him!”

To his horror, Clark felt his face heat up and his eyes water, and he desperately tried to school his features into something more neutral, though he knew he was failing abysmally.

“Sweety, you can’t just choose your Daddy. You only get one.” Lois said weekly.

But Jason disagreed.

“But Mrs Gills told us about Stepfathers and Godfathers. She said people could be your Daddy even if they weren’t really your Daddy.” Jason looked a little confused, like he didn’t really understand it anymore. “And Mrs Gills knows everything.”

Jason crossed his arms determinedly, as if that last bit decided the matter. Clark supposed it would have been amusing if it concerned someone else.

“Well, Mrs Gills is right about that, but Clark still isn’t your father …”

“Then I want Mr Clark to be my Wantfather.”

“Your Wa - what?”

“My Wantfather. There’s Stepfathers and Godfathers. Why can’t there be Wantfathers?”

“Well, alright. I suppose that couldn’t hurt…”

The bemused smile Lois shot at Clark turned into a puzzled look when she caught sight of his face. Clark didn’t even want to think about the number of emotions that were visible on his face, clear for everyone to see.

Jason shot Clark one of his broad grins and threw his arms around his neck, knocking his glasses askew.

“Now you’re my Wantfather.”

Clark held Jason tightly and closed his eyes.

“And you’re my Wantson.”