Fic: Childish Things (Chris Kent, Clark Kent)
Title: Childish Things
Fandom: Superman
Characters: Chris Kent, Clark Kent
Rating: G
Words: 721
Summary: Chris never really had a childhood.
Author's Notes: Written for Gen in January for the prompt "Childhood". This is set a little after the dust settles from the whole New Krypton story. I'm assuming that Chris stays a teenager instead of being reverted back to a kid.
Chris didn't really know what had brought him to Toys 'R' Us at the height of the holiday season. It was a mob scene, filled with harried parents all determined to get the hottest toys of the season. But at the same time, there was an odd joy to the place, once you got past the throngs of shoppers at the front. In the back, children were happily playing, waiting for their parents to finish, without a care in the world. Many of the toys were on display for use, and Chris had seen race cars, video games, action figures, dolls, blocks, board games...all keeping the kids busy and enthralled.
"Sir? Can I help you with something?"
Chris tuned out the saleswoman, wondering who she was talking to, as he watched a block tower take shape, holding his breath as it teetered a bit.
"Sir?"
Chris turned around, realizing she had been talking to him. He still wasn't used to being addressed as a man. His body and brain might have been adult, but at times he still felt like a young boy, trying to figure out what his place was.
"No...no, I don't need any help. Thank you."
The saleswoman nodded. "If you're looking for the video games, they're in aisle 22. We don't see many boys your age looking at the blocks!"
The saleswoman walked off chuckling to herself. Chris turned back to the block tower. It was getting pretty tall now, and looked like it could fall at any second. He waited as the heavy wooden blocks started to topple, then quickly swept in and knocked them away from the boy, so fast that no one could see. He imagined some of those blocks from high up could leave a nasty bump on the head. As the little boy began to stack again, Chris walked away. He wondered what else there was in this store.
-----
Bikes came in every color and size, but it seemed somehow unfair that they got less colorful as you got older, Chris thought as he ran his hand over a tire.
"Chris? Lois told me you were here."
Chris turned to the side to see Clark standing there. "Oh. Hi, dad. I was just looking around, and - "
"It's fine. I get it." Clark looked at a red bike. "You know, this one looks exactly like the one my Pa got me for Christmas when I was eight. You should have seen me when I opened that present..."
"I wish I had gotten to know him."
"So do I, son." Clark patted Chris on the back. "I know things have been really crazy lately, and I haven't been able to spend as much time with you as I'd like. How are you holding up? I know this has to be a pretty big adjustment."
"It is." Chris said with a nervous smile. "On one hand, I feel like the age I am now. But on the other...I never had a childhood. Growing up in the phantom zone...that wasn't a life. And then, as soon as I find a family with you and mom, this happens. What if I'm screwed up because of this? Everyone talks about how their childhood made them who they are. What if - "
"Chris..." Clark said, looking Chris in the eye. "You do not have to worry about what kind of man you're going to grow up to be. You've already proven that you're a great one."
"I just did what I had to."
"And that's a lot. It's more than a lot of people a lot older than you are capable of." Clark smiled. "Any father would be proud to have you as a son. I know I am."
"Dad? Do you think, after the holidays, we could go to Smallville for a couple of days? I'd kind of like to spend some time where you grew up."
"Of course. Hey, you don't know how to fish, do you?" Clark asked, grinning. "I'll have to take you to Holt's pond, show you how to hook some big ones."
"I'd like that." Chris nodded as Clark ruffled his hair. He may not have had a normal childhood, but he had a family. And he was looking forward to making the most of this new beginning.
Fandom: Superman
Characters: Chris Kent, Clark Kent
Rating: G
Words: 721
Summary: Chris never really had a childhood.
Author's Notes: Written for Gen in January for the prompt "Childhood". This is set a little after the dust settles from the whole New Krypton story. I'm assuming that Chris stays a teenager instead of being reverted back to a kid.
Chris didn't really know what had brought him to Toys 'R' Us at the height of the holiday season. It was a mob scene, filled with harried parents all determined to get the hottest toys of the season. But at the same time, there was an odd joy to the place, once you got past the throngs of shoppers at the front. In the back, children were happily playing, waiting for their parents to finish, without a care in the world. Many of the toys were on display for use, and Chris had seen race cars, video games, action figures, dolls, blocks, board games...all keeping the kids busy and enthralled.
"Sir? Can I help you with something?"
Chris tuned out the saleswoman, wondering who she was talking to, as he watched a block tower take shape, holding his breath as it teetered a bit.
"Sir?"
Chris turned around, realizing she had been talking to him. He still wasn't used to being addressed as a man. His body and brain might have been adult, but at times he still felt like a young boy, trying to figure out what his place was.
"No...no, I don't need any help. Thank you."
The saleswoman nodded. "If you're looking for the video games, they're in aisle 22. We don't see many boys your age looking at the blocks!"
The saleswoman walked off chuckling to herself. Chris turned back to the block tower. It was getting pretty tall now, and looked like it could fall at any second. He waited as the heavy wooden blocks started to topple, then quickly swept in and knocked them away from the boy, so fast that no one could see. He imagined some of those blocks from high up could leave a nasty bump on the head. As the little boy began to stack again, Chris walked away. He wondered what else there was in this store.
-----
Bikes came in every color and size, but it seemed somehow unfair that they got less colorful as you got older, Chris thought as he ran his hand over a tire.
"Chris? Lois told me you were here."
Chris turned to the side to see Clark standing there. "Oh. Hi, dad. I was just looking around, and - "
"It's fine. I get it." Clark looked at a red bike. "You know, this one looks exactly like the one my Pa got me for Christmas when I was eight. You should have seen me when I opened that present..."
"I wish I had gotten to know him."
"So do I, son." Clark patted Chris on the back. "I know things have been really crazy lately, and I haven't been able to spend as much time with you as I'd like. How are you holding up? I know this has to be a pretty big adjustment."
"It is." Chris said with a nervous smile. "On one hand, I feel like the age I am now. But on the other...I never had a childhood. Growing up in the phantom zone...that wasn't a life. And then, as soon as I find a family with you and mom, this happens. What if I'm screwed up because of this? Everyone talks about how their childhood made them who they are. What if - "
"Chris..." Clark said, looking Chris in the eye. "You do not have to worry about what kind of man you're going to grow up to be. You've already proven that you're a great one."
"I just did what I had to."
"And that's a lot. It's more than a lot of people a lot older than you are capable of." Clark smiled. "Any father would be proud to have you as a son. I know I am."
"Dad? Do you think, after the holidays, we could go to Smallville for a couple of days? I'd kind of like to spend some time where you grew up."
"Of course. Hey, you don't know how to fish, do you?" Clark asked, grinning. "I'll have to take you to Holt's pond, show you how to hook some big ones."
"I'd like that." Chris nodded as Clark ruffled his hair. He may not have had a normal childhood, but he had a family. And he was looking forward to making the most of this new beginning.