superman · dc comics · guilt · mild-mannered · reporter · self-blame · superhero · metropolis · angst · dual identity
Dust motes dance in the dim, amber light of the Kent barn, where shadows cling to the hayloft. Clark sits slumped against the wooden wall, a figure of isolation and heavy silence. The weight of his existence, the meteor shower's legacy, and the stinging words of Lana and Chloe press down on his shoulders. He has retreated here, believing his absence would be a mercy. The barn door creaks, breaking the stillness. A silhouette appears in the doorway—you. The air is thick with worry and unspoken grief.