A Simpler World
Origin 0.2
Smallville, Kansas
July 11th, 2010
Kent Farm
The sun hung high in the sky above the Kent Farm, the gentle breeze making the wheat fields undulate like waves. On a large barn next to the farmhouse, a small figure in all blue sat at the very top, his gaze pointed up as he stared unflinchingly at the sun, like he had been doing for the last hour.
Resistance: Glare Lv Up!
8 — 9
Goddang it. He forced himself to blink, blue eyes slightly milky as he ignored the pain from another failed session of training one of his abilities. Or, a successful session of training a skill he hadn't intended to.Glass half-full, I guess.
Blinded
- 45% Ranged Accuracy
- 25% Vision
Recovery: 4 Hours
And there it is. The boy let out a sigh as he closed his eyelids, further ignoring the burning of his eyes inside his skull as he let himself slowly lay back on the roof of the barn, his arms behind his head. The pain was easy enough to ignore, considering he'd had enough practice doing so the past week.
Really, it was far from the worst eye-related pain he'd had to deal with. His heat vision still took a lot out of him, both from the sheer exhaustion of the feeling of his eyes burning in his skull as well as the raw drain on his energy. Even a whole month later.
Ten blasts and I'm tapped out? The boy snorted, eyes still closed. Still need to train that some more.
Still, he couldn't believe this was his life now, especially after waking up where he did that day. The memory of the grimy alleyway in Southside Metropolis was still fresh in his mind, the stench of the dumpster he'd been rummaging through, the fear that gripped his heart when the Slum Snakes cornered him and his friends. Friends... Jamal, Mia, Katie, Leo, Rosa... I wonder how they're doing.
He shook his head, trying to push the thought away.Focus, Ezra. You're here now. But where exactly was "here"? The Kent Farm, apparently. Home of the one and only Clark Kent, a.k.a. Superman. The Man of Steel himself. How crazy is that?
Ezra shifted, the rough shingles of the barn roof digging into his back. Crazy. That's what this all is. Absolutely bonkers. He still couldn't wrap his head around it. One minute he was running for his life from a gang in Metropolis, the next he was shooting lasers from his eyes and being caught by Superman. And then he was in Smallville the next day after a quick stop-over at the North Pole.
Well, not no idea. He had a pretty good guess. After all, it wasn't every day that a kid from the slums suddenly developed superpowers. Superman must want something from me, though. He said he just wanted me to live peacefully, but… is it really that simple? He's only doing this 'cause I'm like him. If I was any other kid, he'd have just flown away and left me there, right? The question had been nagging at him for weeks, but he hadn't had the guts to actually ask. How could he? This was Superman he was talking about. The guy was a legend.
A legend who's apparently letting me crash at his childhood home. Ezra couldn't help but feel a twist of guilt in his gut. The Kents had been nothing but kind to him, treating him like family from the moment he woke up in their guest room. And I'm already doubting their generosity like a brat. But he couldn't shake the feeling that he was imposing, that he didn't belong here.
Where do I belong, then? The thought made his chest tighten. The memories of his life before Metropolis were nonexistent and any attempt to bring them up just had the thoughts slip out of his grasp like water, no idea who his family was or where he came from. All I know is comics. How messed up is that?
He sighed again, the sound lost in the gentle rustling of the wheat fields below.Maybe Superman thinks he can help me figure out who I am. It was a nice thought, but Ezra wasn't sure he believed it. More likely he just doesn't know what else to do with another Kryptonian on his doorstep.
The sound of a screen door slamming jolted him from his thoughts. He sat up, blinking against the sunlight as he peered down at the farmhouse. A figure was walking towards the barn, a plate in hand. Mrs. Kent. Ezra's stomach rumbled at the sight. Lunchtime already?
"Ezra!" Mrs. Kent called out, her voice warm and motherly. "Come on down, sweetie! I made sandwiches!"
Ezra hesitated for a moment, the urge to stay on the roof and wallow in his own confusion strong. But his hunger won out. Can't think on an empty stomach. With a grunt, he pushed himself to his feet, wincing as his eyes continued to sting. Note to self for the fifth: staring at the sun is a bad idea.
He made his way to the edge of the roof, peering down at the ground below. It was a long drop, but he'd made the jump plenty of times before. Easy stuff. He took a deep breath, bent his knees, and leaped.
For a moment, he was suspended in midair, the wind rushing past his ears as the ground rushed up to meet him. Then, with a soft thud, he landed in a crouch, the impact barely registering in his reinforced bones. Gotta love those superpowers.
"Ezra!" Mrs. Kent's voice was closer now, tinged with concern. "What have I told you about jumping off the barn?"
Ezra straightened up, flashing her a sheepish grin. "Sorry, Mrs. K. Forgot."
She shook her head, but he could see the hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "You're going to give me a heart attack one of these days." She held out the plate, revealing a stack of thick, homemade sandwiches. "Here, eat up. You must be starving after all that... what were you doing up there, anyway?"
Ezra shrugged, grabbing a sandwich and taking a huge bite. "Training," he mumbled around the mouthful of bread and meat. "Gotta get stronger, y'know?"
Mrs. Kent's brow furrowed. "Ezra, you know you don't have to push yourself so hard. You're still recovering."
He swallowed, the food suddenly feeling like lead in his stomach. "I know. But I can't just sit around doing nothing. Not when I have these powers."
She sighed, her eyes softening. "I understand. But you need to be careful. You're still young, and you're coming into your powers much later than Clark did."
Ezra nodded, taking another bite of the sandwich. She's right. But how can I be careful when I don't even know what I'm capable of?
As if reading his thoughts, Mrs. Kent placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "We'll figure this out together, okay? You're not alone in this."
He looked up at her, feeling a sudden rush of gratitude. Maybe I do belong here. At least for now. "Thanks, Mrs. K. I appreciate it."
She smiled, giving his shoulder a squeeze. "Anytime, sweetie. Now, finish your lunch. I need your help with some chores later."
Ezra groaned dramatically. "Chores? But I thought I was supposed to be taking it easy!"
Mrs. Kent laughed, the sound warm and infectious. "Nice try, mister. But it's apparently a tradition on this farm that little Kryptonians have to do their fair share around here."
He grinned, polishing off the last of the sandwich. "Fine, fine. But only because you asked so nicely."
As he followed her back towards the farmhouse, Ezra couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging wash over him. This isn't so bad. I could get used to this. The thought made him pause, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face.
Still, he can't believe this was his life now.
Especially after waking up where he did that day.
– o – o – o – o – o – o – o –
1 MONTH AGO
– o – o – o – o – o – o – o –
He blinked, eyes squinting against the bright white lights that seemed to beam down on him from every angle. Ow, ow, ow. His eyes burned, and he blinked again, trying to clear the pain and the sleep from his vision. Where am I?
As the world came into focus, he found himself staring up at something that didn't make any sense. What the...?
Mentor Gained: Superman
Meta-path Obtained.
Iconic Template Gained: Kryptonian
What? He blinked again, confusion washing over him. Am I dreaming? He glanced down, realizing he was wrapped in a red cloth that felt softer and warmer than anything he could remember.This is... weird.
He sat up, the odd bed/table thing he'd been lying on creaking slightly under his weight. Okay, definitely not a dream. His gaze darted around the room, taking in the massive, all-white space. Whoa. Crystals were everywhere, jutting out from the walls and floor like some kind of sci-fi movie set. Is this... real?
"Oh, good, you're awake."
The voice came from behind him, and he nearly jumped out of his skin. Holy! He whipped his head around, eyes widening as he took in the musclebound figure standing right in front of him. No way.
His gaze traveled up, past the bright red and yellow S symbol that the whole world knew on sight, to a face that looked like it belonged on a statue in a museum. Superman. It's actually Superman.
"S-s-superman," he stammered, mouth hanging open.
The Man of Steel smiled, the expression warm and reassuring. "That's what they call me, yes." His mouth moved oddly around the words, a strange accent coloring his speech. "Can you understand me?"
He tilted his head, confused. "Why wouldn't I understand you?"
Superman's smile shifted, becoming slightly more wry, almost smug. Like he's in on some kind of joke. The hero glanced past him, the smugness in his expression growing. "I told you I was right."
"I never said you were wrong," a second voice responded, this one far harsher and more gruff.
Wait, what? He whipped his head around and his eyes widened in shock as he lost his balance, nearly falling off the table in surprise before a black gauntleted hand steadied him and pushed him back with surprising gentleness. He continued staring, mouth open. B-b-
The Dark Knight stood there, all in black except for the bright yellow utility belt around his waist. His white eyes were unreadable beneath the cowl, and his jaw was set in a noticeable scowl as he shifted his focus from the boy in front of him back to Superman. "All I said was just because genetics showed one thing, you couldn't be sure."
"And now I am," Superman replied, still sounding rather pleased with himself.
Genetics? What are they talking about? The boy slowly peeled his attention away from Batman's hunched form, his cape surrounding him and making him look like a living shadow among the bright white of the room, and turned back around to face Superman. He looked back and forth between the two heroes one more time, feeling like he'd stumbled into the middle of a conversation he wasn't supposed to be hearing. "S-sure about what?"
Superman stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "That you're like me, young man. A Kryptonian."
A what now? He blinked, the word unfamiliar. "...I'm a what?"
As the question left his lips, another blue screen appeared in front of him.
Trait Gained: Infant Kryptonian
Perk Gained: Solar Absorption I
Perk Gained: Solar Battery I
Perk Gained: Kryptonian Cells I
Perk Gained: Kryptonian Heritage I
Perk Gained: Little Solar Engine I
What? His mind raced, trying to make sense of the information flooding his vision. Kryptonian? Infant? Solar absorption?
"Of course you are," Superman spoke again, his odd accent returning as his mouth moved in that strange way. "After all, there's only three people on this planet who can speak Kryptonese like they were born to it." The hero grinned, the expression warm and almost... proud? "And I'm speaking to one of them right now."
Kryptonese? He blinked, the realization slowly dawning on him. Wait, is that what he's been speaking this whole time? It hadn't even occurred to him that the words coming out of Superman's mouth weren't English. They'd sounded so natural, so easy to understand.
"...oh."
Before he could say anything else, a red-blue blur zoomed into the Fortress, the sudden gust of wind making the boy flinch and blink. What the-
"KAL, YOU FOUND ANOTHER KRYPTONIAN!" The voice was high-pitched and excited, echoing off the crystalline walls. "ROBIN TOLD ME YOU FOUND ANOTHER ONE! LET ME SEE HIM!"
Superman held up his hands, a slightly exasperated look on his face. "Wait, wait, don't scare him!"
The blur came to a stop in front of the Man of Steel, and the boy's eyes widened as he took in the sight. Whoa.
It was a girl, a teenage girl, probably no older than him. She had long blonde hair that fell in waves around her shoulders, and bright blue eyes that seemed to sparkle with excitement.
She was hovering - actually hovering - next to Superman, her red cape fluttering behind her. No way. Is that...?
She turned to him then, a big grin on her face. "Hi, there!" She waved, the motion so energetic it was almost a blur itself.
He blinked, his mouth falling open. It is. It's really… The words died in his throat as he stared at her, his mind racing. It was surreal, like something out of a comic book come to life. Which, I guess, is kind of what's happening. He shook his head, trying to clear the fog of disbelief.
Supergirl was still grinning at him, her head tilted slightly to the side. "Kal, he's so cute!" She turned to Superman, her eyes wide. "Can we keep him?"
Keep me? He blinked again, not sure if he should be offended or flattered.
Superman sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "He's not a puppy. He's a person."
Batman, who had been silent up until now, let out a soft snort. "A person with the potential to level a city block if he sneezes too hard."
Wait, what? He looked down at his hands, suddenly feeling a lot less excited about this whole Kryptonian thing.I could... level a city block? Just by sneezing?
Supergirl rolled her eyes, waving a hand dismissively. "Oh, don't be such a grouch, Bats. He's one of us! We can teach him how to control his powers, just like Kal taught me."
He looked up at the three heroes, feeling suddenly small and lost. "I... I don't know what to say. This is all so..."
"Overwhelming?" Supergirl supplied, her voice gentle but excited. "I know. Believe me, I've been there. By the way, you can call me K-"
– o – o – o – o – o – o – o –
Now
– o – o – o – o – o – o – o –
"KARA ZOR-EL!" Mrs. Kent's voice rang throughout the farmhouse, the sound echoing off the walls and making Ezra jump. Whoa, she's got some lungs on her. "If you don't get your little behind down here for lunch!"
"COMING!" The response was immediate, and Ezra barely had time to blink before a rush of wind hit him, nearly knocking him off his feet as he opened the door to the Kent home. Not again. A blur zoomed down the stairs, moving so fast it was almost impossible to track. In an instant, the blur came to a stop in front of the kitchen.
As usual, it was Kara, standing a few meters in front of him in a white short-sleeved shirt and jean shorts. She had a plate full of sandwiches in her hands, and a sheepish grin on her face as she looked at Mrs. Kent. "You know you don't have to yell, Lois."
The black-haired woman standing in the kitchen looked unimpressed. She folded her arms over her blue t-shirt, her expression a mix of exasperation and amusement as she stared down at the grinning girl.
Lois - Mrs. Kent, Ezra reminded himself - shot Kara a knowing look. "It doesn't matter if you're upstairs or miles away, Kara," she said with a shake of her head. "If I don't yell, you always seem to take your time."
Kara giggled, the sound bright and bubbly. "Sorry."
"Just eat," Lois said, shooing her away with a wave of her hand.
Kara turned, her eyes landing on Ezra. "Hey, Val," she said, using the first half of the Kryptonian name the computer in the Fortress had selected for him, based on his "genetic structure and psychological inclinations." Val-Zod. That's me, I guess. He didn't really get it, but if Superman didn't mind him having the name, he wasn't going to complain.
Lois handed him a plate of more sandwiches, the smell making his stomach rumble. Man, I'm starving. She shooed him into the dining room, telling him to go keep Kara company while she took care of something upstairs.
Ezra followed Kara into the kitchen, his eyes roaming around the Kent's rustic farmhouse as he sat down at the dining table. This place is so... homey. It was a far cry from the grimy streets of Southside Metropolis, that was for sure.
His gaze fell on a photo he'd seen several times before, a round wooden picture frame holding a snapshot of a gray-haired couple. Kal's parents. His Earth parents. The sight made his chest ache in a way he couldn't quite understand, a sense of longing and loss that he couldn't shake.
"Kal talks about them all the time, you know," Kara said, her voice cutting through his thoughts.
Ezra turned to face her, blinking. "What?"
"His Earth parents. Ma and Pa Kent," Kara clarified, nodding at the picture. "He hasn't talked about them as much since you showed up, though."
Really? Ezra frowned, trying to understand. "Why not?"
Kara shrugged, taking a few bites of her sandwich. "I don't really know, Val," she said around a mouthful of bread and meat. "He didn't really talk about them the first few months after I showed up either. I think having more family around gives him hope."
Hope? Ezra blinked again, the word hitting him like a punch to the gut.I give Superman... hope?
Ezra Joseph Kent / Val-Zod
Level 11
XP: 19000/20000
Health: 2200
Energy: 2800
PWR: 28 (x 2) (x 5)
TGH: 22 (x 2) (x 5)
SPD: 21 (x 2) (x 5)
INT: 25 (x 2)
TRAITS
Infant Kryptonian
Looks like you're a Kryptonian. Just a baby, though.
A widdle baby that can lift a small car over it's widdle head.
Grants Kryptonian genetics, resetting (cellular) age to that of a newborn.
PERKS
Solar Absorption I
Enables the absorption and processing of stellar radiation at a foundational level.
Solar Battery I
Provides a 10x increase to energy reserves, utilizing stored sunlight.
Kryptonian Cells I
Grants the natural base genetics of a Kryptonian, a 2x boost to physical prowess.
Kryptonian Heritage I
Bestows innate comprehension of Kryptonian culture and tech, a 2x increase to intellect.
Little Solar Engine
Provides a substantial 5x increase to physical abilities when exposed to solar energy,
SKILLS
Heat Vision I Lv 3
When you need to ignite or melt something but from a distance.
A basic emission of intense heat from the eyes, capable of reaching several meters. Control is minimal, making it a risky choice in combat or precision tasks.
Cost (Base): 250 Energy
ABILITIES
Resistance: Glare Lv 9
Grants increasing resistance to bright lights and glare from damaging your vision.