etrayalogs | Happy birthday to you

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Happy birthday to you

WHO: The Lane-Kent family
WHEN: February something something
WHERE: The apartments and then out & about
WHAT: A big boy is turning 11!

[Clark makes sure he wakes up early on this very special day. Not that he isn't usually up with the chickens — not that they have chickens here — but he's got to make sure they beat Jon and get everything together.

It's been a rough month, between the mission and then Jon's disappointment about his valentines. And maybe he deserves to celebrate somewhere else, with the parents who have been there for every birthday, but he and Lois are the parents he's got here, and they love him too. So really it's no problem to play the hand they've been dealt and make sure Jon has a fun eleventh birthday.

Presents, check. Pancakes, check. Candles, check. They just need the birthday boy to wake up.]

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( Lois sets out the fifth flavor of whipped cream, having remembered she'd found a peach flavor the night before when at the big grocery store, looking towards Jon's door, then Clark. Happy Birthday celebrations for kids is something she's mostly seen other people's kids have, where she wasn't really involved. Yet another marker her own childhood didn't deliver much relevant experience.

Any moment now. She's definitely not visibly ensuring she doesn't fidget.

... Instead, she's picking up the peach whipped cream can again and passing it from hand to hand, back to watching Jon's door. She avoids saying, do you think he's awake yet to Clark, for the sake of trying very thinly to keep the birthday wakeup surprise intact.

Good thing Clark is so great at breakfast. Lois would have looked for whatever was available from the freezer sections of the various stores left to her own devices. Thank everything Jon doesn't have to survive on that. )

( when jon wakes up it's with a sigh.

he's getting better with his super hearing — hasn't had any more episodes as of late but has taken to wearing headphones with music when things start to filter through a little more loudly than he'd like them to. it'll take time and practice, he knows. but it still sucks!

he pushes himself up in bed, having slept on his front, and rubs at his eye with a hand before he starts the routine rolling out of bed scenario and ending twisted up in his bedsheets. with a sleepy little heck on his lips, he untangles himself on the floor and crawls his way through the sheets, leaving his hair a bit of a mess. yawn done, he fixes his dinosaur pjs a little before he's making his way for the door but decides to bring his pillow along with him because he's tired and going to go back to sleep on the couch he's decided. why? it's sleepy brain logic, that's why.

so he makes his way out of his room, sleepily dragging his pillow behind him with one hand and rubbing his eye with another. one sock on and one sock off. diddle diddle dumpling, their son jon. )

( the pillow is an excellent idea for spontaneous napping after breakfast. as it is, Lois finds herself smiling at the sleep mussed kid walking out rubbing at one eye.

with a glance to Clark to make sure she's catching the right timing, she holds up the whipped cream can (incidentally) as she says: )

Happy Birthday, Jon!

[Clark doesn't question the pillow, because...well, it doesn't really register. He's too keyed up about making sure all the birthday stuff is in order. They can do this right, he's sure of it, he just really, really wants to make sure they do.]

Happy birthday, Jon!

[He blows a party kazoo. Krypto, who has been very good and quiet this morning (a birthday miracle), barks excitedly, a festive hat on his head.]

( well if there was ever a way to wake a sleepy kid up!

blue eyes blink in surprise and he clutches his pillow almost protectively... until his brain wakes up and he registers what's happening and yet, still he asks, with his mouth dropped open. )

What's going on?

[Well, they've definitely surprised him. Score one for the improvising parents. Clark honestly hadn't been sure if they'd be able to.]

I know you're pretty far from home, but that doesn't mean we can't still celebrate you turning eleven. So, we're starting with a birthday breakfast.

[And soooo many pancakes.]

( a growing half-kryptonian kid NEEDS his pancakes after all.

but the bewilderment isn't anything he can hide in his expression there and he scratches at his cheek as he looks around before he's looking back to his parents. )

You mean... we're having a birthday party?

[All the more reason to get up early and make so, so many of them.]

Sure are. We have some ideas about things we can do later, but it's up to you — the whole day is yours.

[He takes a plate that Lois passes him — birthday boy goes first.]

How many pancakes do you want to start with? I made some regular, and some with chocolate chips or blueberries cooked in.

( this is just... gosh. he hadn't really thought much of his birthday lately with everything else going on but now that he's smacked right in the face with it and the aroma of pancakes, well. he just can't help it! )

All the pancakes!

( said excitedly with arms thrown up. it's pancake time! )

[Gosh, it's nice to see Jon smiling like that. Makes him feel like there's a little sun in the middle of his chest.]

All the pancakes it is.

[So, he can start with a stack of three...no, maybe four. Any taller than that and it'll be hard to get any toppings he wants on individual pancakes.]

( pillow dropped, he hurries his way over to krypto and crouches down to hug the dog around his neck, smile warm and bright. )

Krypto, you were in on this, too? Thanks so much, buddy.

( to which he laughs and falls over a little the moment krypto starts excitedly licking his face. gosh, krypto! )

Krypto pulled out his best good boy behavior card.

( Lois says, having finished filling a bowl with the not peach flavor whipped cream and bringing it over to the happy tangle of boy and dog. She crouches down to set it to the side after making sure Krypto twitches a sniff and an ear in its direction, holding out a lukewarm damp face towel prepared for Urgent Cleaning Needs. there's more on the countertop. they were Ready for whatever was coming, unless what was coming was a toddler. )

He even helped taste test the early pancakes.

( If he had been asked to help is better left unasked and unanswered. )

Got a little slobber on your face, birthday boy.

Aw geez, mom.

( but there he goes, rolling himself up and taking the warm cloth to wipe his cheek with a little. once that's all said he done, he gives her a thumbs up... then runs for the pancakes, still with the one sock on and one sock off. socks can wait. there's pancakes to be had! )

I wanna try them all at once!

( because he definitely could... and he will! grabbing himself a fork and happily stabbing a good amount with it. )

I'm not sure you can — oh, never mind.

[He can, apparently. Not that Clark doubted his son's tiny Kryptonian appetite, only how wide he could open his mouth. He serves up a few more pancakes for Lois, and then himself.]

My dad always used to make pancakes for us on snowy days. Made staying inside that much cozier when I was a kid.

( Lois hooks her foot songs a chair to pull it out and settle in, sending a smile and a thanks to Clark before she picks out the syrup and the whipped cream for herself. No one could possibly think she really likes sugar.

... So anyway, she also sprinkles sugar on the pancakes. Perfect sugar morning. She watches them both with a fond air, working the outside angle of this conversation. )

Gotta admit it sounds cozy.

( A pause, and a gesture with her loaded fork. )

Both of you, what's your favorite kind of pancake?

( Reverse that question to her and it's probably... chocolate chip? Hmm. )

Well if you ask me, there's no wrong kind of pancake.

( that is to say: all of them. yes, please! also... making sure he says that AFTER he swallows his forkful shoved into his mouth because, heh. that would be rude to talk with his mouth full. )

Have to agree with Jon. But I'm a big fan of blueberry pancakes.

[Which he's eating right now, a few sprinkles on top to go with the syrup and whipped cream. Which is basically the same as Lois putting straight sugar on hers, just more demure about it.]

( one of them was always destined to be bolder. which it is tends to trade off in different moments.

krypto finished the bowl of whipped cream and has come to sit next to jon and give him the eyes of begging. more please. right into his mouth. lois not so surprisingly lifts an eyebrow at the dog, who wags his tail with a thump in return. )

Can't argue with that. Then how about... pancakes versus waffles?

Mom, you can’t ask us to choose between those. Gee wiz!

( he’s so exasperated that he was even asked such a thing, wow! )

Right? I can't believe she even asked.

[Clark shakes his head, chuckling. He might catch some hell for this, but he's willing to face it.]

I think it's more a what-am-I-in-the-mood-for thing. If I want to drown them in syrup, it's waffles. Gotta fill up all the little squares.

[His approach to waffles matches Lois' to coffee, apparently.]

( meanwhile she just looks amused. )

What, no suggestions of both at the same time? Thinking small and reserved here?

( the eyebrow quirk is probably more meant for Clark, but it's very, with your appetites? )

( jon merely chuckles around the mouthful of pancakes he’s got stuffed in him, even snorting a little as he does. )

Maybe mom has a point.

Mom does have a point.

[No really, she does. Waffles and pancakes would take more work, but it's not like he hadn't been willing to put the time in this morning. This is why Lois is the sharpest member of the family.]

Maybe I'll go for both the next time we have something to celebrate.

So for your birthday?

( Lois says, not entirely a question, finishing off her first pancake. Which is delightful, even while the frosting is asking a slow melting act the whole time.

krypto is levitating to try and steal some of the completed but not served pancakes. )

( don’t mind jon just stuffing his face still with pancakes until. )

Hang on. I have to go to the bathroom. I’ll be right back!

( and off he goes! darting his way for the bathroom and shutting the door behind him. all this early morning excitement. phew! )

[Oh, okay.]

Hopefully he hasn't eaten so many pancakes so quick that they're making a return trip.]

[Probably not. He was moving awfully fast for that.]

I think we're doing okay hosting our first kid birthday, don't you?

( she looks after Jon and snorts, softly, before tipping her head to look at Clark. )

I think we're doing pretty good -

( which is exactly when she sees krypto with his muzzle in the pancakes. pointing, she plants an elbow on the table and a foot on the floor: )

Krypto, drop it.

( the dog definitely starts scarfing pancake faster. )

( after doing what he needs to do in the bathroom and making sure he washes his hands! he hurries his way back out and… leaps into a bit of a drifting through the air to which he drifts his way on into the both of them, hugging them each with an arm. )

Thank you both for this. Really.

[Clark snatches the plate away from the dog — come on, buddy, you were doing so well — and rolls his eyes at the big sad eyes from Krypto, which are absolutely not fooling anyone. Good thing he made a lot of pancakes.

But, hey. There are more important concerns right now. Jon flying around is never not adorable to Clark, but it gives his heart an extra squeeze in this context, and he leans in to hug their son back.]

You're very welcome. But it's not over yet. You still have to open your presents after pancakes.

( Clark handling the dog trying to be the pancake thief and then a son right there for hugs is a pretty great distraction. Lois gets one arm and Jon for a return hug, her heart lifted that he's maybe just getting some happiness back in the face of traumatic situations they can't just prevent and solve away for him. If only they could.

A birthday, though? They can give him that much. )

Love you, Jon.

( Not the right mom, but it's become true regardless. And whatever lump it leaves in her throat can be swallowed down. She leans back to see his face. )

So you're welcome, and what do you want to get up to today?

( the sound he makes is soft, light, warm, much as he himself is at this point in his life. he hopes to always be this way — to become like his dad and protect people while standing for justice and truth like his mom does. he hopes that for himself but... he also hopes for presents. hehe!

he squeezes them both — gently! — and then pulls away with a bright smile on that face of his. )

Presents for sure! ( heh. what kid DOESN'T want those on their birthday? ) But I dunno. I didn't even think I'd have a party!

Hey, eleven is a big year. We weren't going to let that go by without celebrating.

[Is it weird if he's a little amazed that Jon is growing up so fast, having met him less than a year ago, when he was already ten? Yeah, probably. Must be a dad thing though.]

I thought maybe we could visit the Mall of America. It's got a bunch of fun stuff — an aquarium, blacklight mini-golf, escape rooms...

[It might also be where at least one of Jon's presents came from.]

Don't be at fast to pass up a free tell your parents where we're going day, those don't come up often. Take full advantage, be it the Mall of America or wherever else.

( Is this time for presents? she nods her head to where there's gifts wrapped on a corner surface... and also stares down Krypto, who has given up on pancakes temporarily and is looking for easy destruction.

he again just wags his tail, then leaps for Jon's presents. )

( tapping himself back down to the floor, he rubs at his nose with the tips of his fingers and gives it a good hard think before he smiles a little cheekily to his parents. well! since they asked... )

Heh. Well I mean. Damian has his Batmobile here. Can I get a car, too?

( how's that? )

Nope!

[Said to Krypto, not Jon. (Although the answer is probably the same.) The dog is fast; Clark is faster. He leaps for the dog, catches him, then turns back to his son with a raised eyebrow.]

Jon, you can fly.

[Wouldn't a car be kind of slow and unfun by comparison? He uses his elbow to nudge forward one nicely-wrapped package.]

Maybe try this instead.

[Inside he'll find a cool-as-heck set of Nerf guns, good for Jon and any friend who's interested in foam ball combat.]

Is it just that you can drive through things or the fact cats are inherently cool that makes you want one?

( There's some kind of joke in this that farm kids often drive younger than Jon out of necessity, but really. Neither here nor there. )

Maybe you and Damian can ask Aurora if you can modify the speed of the trolley system to start.

( in one of the other boxes is... Military grade walkie talkies. Just. Don't ask. The bag next to it has a set of nerf arrows and crossbows, and rolled up paper targets for hanging. )

( it's like christmas morning all over again.

he happily takes hold of his presents for the morning and starts tearing into them with a bubbling excitement that's hard to miss. paper goes flying, bows, tossed, and blue eyes light up at each gift as he holds them up and looks them over with genuine delight. he's always been grateful for the things he's received and has always made fun with the toys he's been given. )

Wow! Wait until I show D this! And these, too!

( sure, he's liable to find the gifts childish and for babies, but. that doesn't mean he won't get the mini wayne to indulge him in some fun! heh! )

Thanks, mom! Thanks, dad!

[Krypto settles now that the presents are in possession of the birthday boy, so Clark lets him go and takes in the sight of Jon enjoying himself. It squeezes something inside him more than he'd expected; of course it makes him happy to see Jon happy, but it goes deeper than that somehow. As Jon unwraps the gifts, he reaches out and squeezes Lois' hand for a moment.]

A birthday might be just one day, but I figure you and your friends can have fun for a lot longer with those.

( she squeezes Clark's hand in return, flash for Jon's enthusiasm. maybe some of it reminds her of moments at home, decades ago, but she's not even sure if that's true. he's just so genuinely pleased it's hard not to feel that joy by proxy. )

You're welcome, kiddo. Tell me how many times D complains before he eventually ends up playing with you anyway.

( with a lopsided, deeply fond smile. )

Heck yeah he will! And I’m going to bring these to the farm for other kids to play with, too.

( said matter of fact because he has already decided this is how it’s going to be. which, opening up the nerf gun, he goes and loads the thing up and pointing it off across the room, he fires a shot and laughs as krypto darts for it, jon running after him. )

Krypto, don’t eat it! I need to conserve ammo!

Sheesh, you'd think we never feed him.

[Not that foam sounds all that delicious. If they can keep him to 'fetch' and not 'catch and destroy', it might be okay, though.]

That dog doesn't understand the concept of satiation.

( picking up plates to head toward the sink, then searching for a bag or something to start collecting the remnants of wrapping. )

Kids farm today or later this week?

Later. We gotta do all the stuff today!

( setting his nerf gun down, he hops his way over and hugs lois there around the waist, laughter warm and soft on his lips as he does. )

Do I get a cake, too?

There might be a cake somewhere around here.

[There's absolutely a cake around here, hidden in a cabinet. Unlike the pancakes, it was pre-purchased, because Clark doesn't think he's an amazing cake decorator, he doesn't even need to ask if Lois is, and the smell of cake baking might have woken Jon up. Gotta be birthday stealthy.]

I thought you'd be too full of pancakes for morning cake and we'd have some later.

[He's starting to question that, though. Did his appetite work like that when he was eleven? He truly doesn't remember.]

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