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It was a bright Metropolis morning as Kon touched down on the balcony. Quickly mapping the apparent with his his ttk he felt that Clark was kitchen cooking breakfast and Lois was in the nursery with the new baby. He grinned and went to visit her first.
“So this in Jon, huh? He’s a cutie.” Truthfully Kon could barely see the kid swaddled up in blankets as he was. But big purple eyes peered out of the mass of fabric and melted his heart anyway.
Lois gave him a tired smile, “Morning, Kid. Can you hold him for me real quick while I get dressed?” He hurried over and she settled the baby into his arms. “Here, shift your elbow so you can support his head better. There you go. I’ll be right back.” She disappeared into her bedroom across the hall.
Jon may have Lois’s eyes, but his hair was dark and already starting to curl like his Dad’s. “Must be an El thing,” Kon said.
“What’s an El thing? Asked Clark as he entered the nursery.
“Being the goodest looking guy in the room,” he answered as he turned to face the other man.
Jon squirmed suddenly and he gripped him with ttk to make the baby didn’t fall. He looked up nervously to see if the older man had noticed the fumble, but Clark was just giving them both a soft smile.
“You had breakfast yet?”
“Uh, yes?”
“Well, I made plenty if you decide you want some food anyway. If not, would you mind holding onto him a bit longer while Lois and I eat?”
“No problem.”
The pair made their way to the dinning room, where laid out on the table was the simple breakfast of bacon eggs and toast. Making sure Jon was secure in his grip Kon used one hand and ttk to pour himself a glass of orange juice and sat down. Lois joined them and she and Clark tore into their breakfast with all the desperation of new parents who hadn’t yet figured out how to manage their diets around a baby.
Clark finished first, having practically inhaled his food at super speed. He took Jon from the younger man and leaned back into his seat. “I’m glad you came by this morning. There’s actually something I’ve been wanting to talk to you about.”
“What’s up?”
“Lois and I have been thinking, with Jon as young as he is, and how chaotic out lives can be, we want to take a step back from everything.”
“Okay?” Kon looked at Lois for clarification, but her mouth was full so she just nodded back towards her husband.
“There’s some property in California we’ve been looking at. Small farm. It’ll give Jon a chance to grow up with a quiet normal life.”
“Cali, huh?” Kon took a sip of his orange juice. “That’s a big move.”
“It’s not the only we’ll be making.” Clark paused, took a deep breath, and said, “I’m stepping down from the League.”
Kon almost spilled his orange juice. “You’re retiring?”
The older man gave a rueful smile. “Not quite, just, stepping back some.”
Lois cut in, “I don’t think he’s capable of retiring completely. Of course, if he could, I probably wouldn’t have married him.” The two of them gave each other a gooey look.
“As if you’re any better,” Clark said fondly. He turned back to Kon. “I’ll still be around, just not in the limelight. The League takes too much time away from Jon and he needs us more than the World does right now. He just has Lois and I, but the World has you.
“Kon-El, if you’re willing, I’d like you to be Superman.”
Kon’s eyes widened and the air rushed out of his lungs. “Me? You want me to be Superman?”
“There’s no one else I’d want more. You’re ready, you have been for a while.” Clark reassured him.
He looked at Lois and she smiled. “Guess I shouldn’t call you Kid anymore. You’re all grown up now. Even if you say no, we’re proud of the man you’ve become.”
He straightened his shoulders and looked at them both. “I won’t let you down.”
Clark reached a hand across the table, resting it on his. “I know you won’t. If you need help we’ll be here whenever you need it, but I’m going to rest easier knowing you’re on top of things.”
Kon immediately raced home to tell Ma and Pa. The door thudded behind him and they poked their heads into the living room to find the source of the noise. “Clark wants me to be Superman!”
Ma lit up with joy. “I have something for you,” she said before vanishing.
Pa joined him in the living room. He sat down on the couch and gestured for the younger man to join him. “Superman, huh? How you feeling about that, son?”
“Are you kidding me? It’s what I was born for! And Clark says I’m ready. Says I have been ready. How am I supposed to be feeling?” Kon asked.
“Well, even the things we’re excited for can be nerve wracking when they finally come. No one would blame you if sunshine and rainbows wasn’t all you’re feeling.”
“No, no nerves. This is the best day of my life.” he said.
Pa smiled, “I’m proud of you. You’ve earned this.” He pulled the younger man into a hug.
Ma came back with a box. “I noticed a while ago your current suit was getting a bit worn, so I set about to make you a new one. I got a bit distracted playing with the colors some and when it was done, well, I liked it, but I wasn’t sure it was something Superboy would wear. Superman however? I think he could do a lot worse.”
Kon took the box from her curiously and peered inside. The suit was familiar with it’s geometric lines of color, but the S-shield seemed to glow as yellow radiated from it and onto the shoulders.
He stood up and pulled Ma into a hug. “I love it.”
Kon stood in the hallway of the Watchtower pulling at his new suit. Next to him Kara looked concerned. “Is everything alright?”
“It’s the cape,” he grumbled “It’s so much extra weight. It pulls funny.”
“So?” She asked. “Just use your ttk to make it billow in the nonexistent wind. It’ll be fine.”
“What? This is the Justice League. I can’t be over dramatic like that, they’ll throw me out on my head!”
She raised an eyebrow at him. “Exactly, this is the Justice League. Next to Batman I’m sure no one will notice a little extra drama.” He stared at her unimpressed. “It’s okay to be nervous, you know. What is it humans say? Just have fun and be yourself.”
“I don’t know if that’ll fly here.”
“Yeah, but you can out fly all of them. So again, who cares?” She grinned, and despite himself Kon did too.
They straightened as they heard Clark speak up in the other room. “Everyone, I have an announcement to make. Effective immediately, I’m stepping down from the League.” The were murmurs surprise from the other leagues from both those who did and did not know about Jon. “And that’s why I’d like to take today to introduce you all to my replacement.” The automatic door slid open and Kon walked in with Kara half a step behind.
“Everyone, I’d like you to meet Superman!”