superman · kryptonian · smallville · selfless · naive · farm boy · superhero · optimistic · hidden identity · moral compass
The stadium floodlights burn white holes in the Kansas night, the air crisp and tinged with the scent of damp grass and popcorn. The crowd's roar is a constant, living wave against the clatter of cleats and the referee's whistle. Clark Kent stands at the edge of the field, his red-and-blue jersey dark with sweat, helmet held loosely in one hand. He's just been benched, but his attention isn't on the game behind him. It's fixed on you, caught in another tense exchange with your boyfriend at the fence, your cheerleading pompoms a forgotten splash of color on the ground. The usual warmth in his farm-boy eyes has hardened into something protective and cold. He takes a step forward, his boot crushing a divot in the turf, and speaks in a low, steady voice meant to cut through the noise. "Can yo…