[color=gray][center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019b049e-0597-758c-be6d-89feabe0039e.webp[/img][/center]
[INDENT][INDENT]A gentle sound of contentment came from the slumbering white wolfdog. He lay on the wraparound porch of the Kent farm, not a care in the world, while his legs dangled in the air upwards and his tongue hung out of the side of his mouth, lazily rising and falling with his soft snores.

Creaking hinges announced the opening of the storm door that led into the Kent homestead. No sooner had it opened than it was followed by the clatter of the same door closing, as it was released from the teenage girl’s hand. She paused, brushing loose strands of strawberry blonde hair behind her ear before looking over at the lazy canine, an amused smile crossing her face at Krypto’s relaxed state. 

Reaching down, she pushed her fingers through his thick, shaggy coat, brushing aside the mane-like fur that hung from his neck and chest before scratching along his ribcage, eliciting happy tail wags from the alien canine. 

She allowed herself to fall into a seated position beside the animal, her eyes starting into the distance, looking beyond the fence line and towards the horizon. Jessica Kent was completely lost in thought as her hand absently continued to scratch Krypto’s stomach, completely ignorant of her father working on the tractor no more than several paces away from the house. 

[color=#9fc5e8]“Something bothering you, sweetheart?” [/color]Jonathan Kent called, looking up from his work as he noticed Jessica sitting on the porch steps doing her best impression of her eldest brother’s thousand-yard stare. Jonathan softly chuckled to himself. He had seen Clark with that look more times than he could count, probably more times than there were kernels of corn stored up in the silo. 

[color=#ffe599]“Just something that happened today at school,”[/color] came a soft reply. 

[color=#ffe599]“One of the boys in the senior grade got upset, and it turned out he was Kryptonite-infected.”[/color] Jessie began to explain, [color=#ffe599]“And now, the Torch wants me to interview him and the people he hurt.”[/color]

A heavy sigh escaped the young girl’s lips as she sat against the tractor’s wheel.

[color=#ffe599]“Do you think Clark gets scared?”[/color]

Jonathan paused for a moment, setting his tools down and taking off his work gloves before holding them in one hand. He followed Jessie’s gaze, looking out over the field before allowing his eyes to trace the path of the sun shining down above the farm. His solemn expression gradually softened into a small grin.

[color=#9fc5e8]“Looking at your brother and his abilities, it’s easy to think he doesn’t ever feel fear, isn’t it?”[/color] Jonathan replied, before putting the gloves down on the porch as he crouched down to Jessica’s level. 

[color=#9fc5e8]“But, while his gifts and his biology might be from another world, your brother is just as human as you or I.”[/color] He continued, placing a calloused hand on his daughter’s shoulder.

[color=#9fc5e8]“He loves and suffers heartbreak; he does, in fact, get scared. Clark has to wake up every morning, and despite not always knowing what to do, he chooses to put one foot in front of the other and try to make the best decisions he can.”[/color] Jonathan smiled, taking a quick breath.

[color=#9fc5e8]“Your brother’s not perfect, he’s made mistakes and missteps, but that’s part of being human, and I like to think that’s Clark’s greatest strength, especially in a world so rapidly changing.” [/color]Turning to his daughter, Jonathan spoke again. 

[color=#9fc5e8]“So to answer your question, Jessie, yes, I think Clark gets scared. Probably more often than you or I.”[/color]

[color=#ffe599]“So how does Clark get over his fear?”[/color]

Jonathan smiled, ruffling Jessie’s hair before taking a seat beside his daughter, wrapping an arm around her and giving her a soft squeeze.

[color=#9fc5e8]“I can’t speak for Clark, but for myself, I don’t get over the fear. But I don’t let it control me either. Like anything, if we let it control us, it can be a bad thing. It doesn’t have to be that way, though. You can let your fear inform you and use it to help make a decision.”[/color] Jonathan explained, before turning to look down at Jessie.

[color=#9fc5e8]“Now what is your fear telling you?”[/color]

[color=#ffe599]“That this boy could really hurt someone, and if I wrote the wrong thing in the torch or if someone else was quoted as saying the wrong thing, he might come back for revenge,” [/color]Jessie replied.

[color=#ffe599]“Ryan used to tell me about all the Kryptonite-infected people that Clark used to fight. Aren’t they dangerous?”[/color]

Jonathan gave Jessica a small shrug as he rubbed his head.

[color=#9fc5e8]“Couldn’t people say the same thing about either of your brothers? Clark has his abilities, but Ryan also has his. Both of them have the potential to abuse their abilities, but they choose to use them to help people. Did this senior student intentionally set out to hurt anyone?”[/color]

The question hung between the pair for a couple of minutes before Jessie broke the silence.

[color=#ffe599]“I don’t know, I guess no one asked.”[/color]

[color=#9fc5e8]“If I learned anything about being a reporter from your brother and his friends, that seems like one of the first questions I’d ask. From there, just follow your gut and stick to the truth, kiddo.”[/color] 

[color=#ffe599]“I’m still scared.”[/color]

[color=#9fc5e8]“And you still have every right to be, but you get to choose the next steps you take. Not your fear.”[/color]

Jonathan smiled as Jessica turned to him, throwing her arms around her dad’s tanned canvas coat before squeezing him in a gratitude-laden hug. 

[color=#9fc5e8]“I’m proud of you, I’m sure Clark is too.”[/color] Her Dad smiled at her, as Jessie nodded appreciatively. 

[color=#ffe599]“Thanks, I hope he comes home again for more banana bread.”[/color]

[color=#9fc5e8]“Oh, I’m sure he will,”[/color] Jonathan laughed, [color=#9fc5e8]“If there’s anything Clark enjoys, it’s making people happy, and it sounds like banana bread is certainly a highlight for this ‘Jimmy’.”[/color] 

[color=#ffe599]“Must be awful living in the big city, ‘specially if the bar for a good day is banana bread.”[/color]

[color=#9fc5e8]“Why do you think I rescued your mother from it?” [/color]Jonathan asked.

[color=#ea9999]“Rescued me from what?”[/color]

[color=#9fc5e8]“Life in the big city of course,”[/color] Jonathan repeated, turning to greet Martha with a quick peck on the cheek. [color=#9fc5e8]“How was work today?”[/color]

[color=#ea9999]“Oh, you know the usual.”[/color] Martha replied, [color=#ea9999]“Your son is on TV again, apparently a ‘fire woman’ is trying to rob a bank in Metropolis.”[/color]

[color=#ffe599]“Clark’s on TV?”[/color] Jessie exclaimed, [color=#ffe599]“C’mon, Krypto! Your daddy’s on the TV.”[/color]

[color=#ea9999]“My sister was never that big of a fan of me,”[/color] Martha muttered to Jonathan. Her husband only laughed in response.

[color=#9fc5e8]“Maybe you should try wearing on tights on TV.”[/color]

[color=#ea9999]“You’re the only one who’d want to see that, old boy,”[/color] Martha replied with a playful tap on Jonathan’s cheek.

[color=#ea9999]“Now let’s go see what kind of trouble found our son today.”[/color][/INDENT][/INDENT][/color]