The music thumped through the woods just outside Metropolis, pulsing like a heartbeat under the night sky. Teenagers crowded around the bonfire—laughing, drinking, trying too hard to act older than they were. Jonathan Kent blended in easily, tossing a football back and forth with some other guys, his smile wide under the flickering orange light.

Jordan, though, stood near the edge of it all. Hoodie on, hands stuffed into his pockets, he watched the flames dance, not quite sure why he came. This wasn’t his scene. Too many people. Too loud. But Jonathan had dragged him out of the house, and—for once—Jordan had actually wanted to come. Mostly because of her.

He’d kissed him. Soft and fast, like he wasn’t sure if he meant to. But it happened. And Sarah kissed him back.

And then her boyfriend showed up.

It happened fast. A shove. Jordan hit the ground, his head cracking against a log. The world spun. Someone laughed. Someone yelled. Jordan blinked up at the blur of faces, heart pounding, emotions spiraling.

And then— BOOM.

A flash of red light erupted from his eyes, a scorching, uncontrolled wave of heat slicing through the air and obliterating the bonfire. The woodpile exploded into cinders, flames roaring out as teens screamed and scattered, smoke rising like a signal flare into the night.

Three kids were burned. Not badly—but enough. Enough for sirens to come. Enough for lies to be told.

“Gas leak,” someone guessed. “Had to be.”

But Jordan knew. He felt it. The way something had snapped inside. The way the heat built behind his eyes like a pressure cooker finally letting go.

⸻

Clark and Lois showed up minutes later—worried, then panicked when they saw the flashing lights. Jordan said nothing in the car, pale and shaking, while Jonathan stole worried glances at his brother.

Later, at the farm, it got worse.

Jordan couldn’t stand the light. Every sound felt like it was screaming. And then in the barn—another flash. The wall caught fire.

That’s when Clark stepped forward, his voice quiet but steady.

“Jordan… there’s something I need to tell you. Something about me. About you.”

And just like that, the truth came out. The glasses came off. The stories ended.

He was Superman.