"This is bad!
This is really bad!"
Eden was in full panic.
The benevolent Clark Kent he knew was, at worst, a little overprotective and indecisive. But even with all his flaws, that version of Clark was someone who could make Eden feel safe — someone who could make the entire world, maybe even the entire universe, feel safe.
But once Superman broke his moral code, there was no happy ending in sight.
A corrupted Superman wasn't some second-rate villain like Homelander, who was limited by public opinion and internet backlash. No, a Superman gone rogue was a disaster waiting to swallow entire worlds — a threat that could shake the very fabric of the universe.
Compared to the dark Superman variants in Eden's memories, even the ruthless Viltrumites suddenly seemed like pleasant company.
"Alright, Clark."
"Look how you've scared our son!"
Nolan, who had been quietly observing from the side, decided the situation had escalated enough. She stepped forward to ease the tension between father and son.
"From now on," she said, folding her arms, "I'll be in charge of educating our child. You've done enough for today."
She shot Clark a playful glare before adding, "Besides, today is our son's eighteenth birthday — his coming-of-age ceremony! Where's the gift you prepared for him, hmm? Don't tell me you're waiting for midnight, when the day's already over!"
Eden blinked, still recovering from his father's ominous tone just moments earlier. Nolan's intervention brought a sliver of relief to the atmosphere.
At her reminder, Clark suddenly froze, realization dawning on his face. "Oh, right — the gift!"
Without another word, he turned and hurried upstairs to the third floor. His movements were quick, almost excited, as if he'd been preparing something monumental.
Eden's brow furrowed. "Wait, the storage room? Is the box made of lead—or something that blocks X-ray vision?"
He instinctively tried to peek with his own X-ray sight, but of course, it failed. No matter how much he focused, the upstairs storage room was an impenetrable blur.
He sighed. "Figures. If Dad doesn't want me to see it, I'm not seeing it."
After all, his control over his powers was nowhere near Clark's level. Superman could block X-ray vision with ease, even from his own son.
"Father, it's just a regular birthday," Eden said aloud, trying to sound casual. "Why go through all this trouble? You're making me feel a bit awkward."
Watching his father's mysterious actions, Eden couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "Would it kill you to at least give me a hint about what this 'special gift' is?"
Nolan chuckled softly and walked over, patting Eden's shoulder. "Don't worry, Eden. Your father spent an entire week choosing this gift for you. I'm sure you'll love it."
Eden groaned inwardly. Heaven help me, Mom, you don't get it. Dad's acting weird. This isn't normal behavior. What if he gives me something... bizarre?
Before he could spiral further, Clark's voice echoed from upstairs.
"I remember, when you were little, you once said you wanted a pet!" he called out.
Eden blinked. "A… pet?"
"At the time," Clark continued, "your mother and I refused because no one was home to take care of it. But now, you're grown up. You can handle responsibility — even take care of another life."
He paused for effect. "So today, as your coming-of-age gift, I'm granting that wish. Whatever it is, treat it as family — and be responsible for it."
Eden's heart skipped a beat. A pet? Seriously?
As he looked up toward the stairs, Clark appeared, descending gracefully with an elegant, lead-lined gift box in his hands.
Eden's eyes widened. Could it be… Krypto?!
The thought hit him like lightning. Back when he was still getting used to his powers, he had joked about Superman's pet dog, Krypto. Out of curiosity, he'd once even tested his father by asking if they could have a pet — half to see Clark's reaction, half to confirm if this really was the DC Universe he remembered.
At that time, both Clark and Nolan had firmly refused, saying they were too busy to care for a pet. Eden had dropped the subject, assuming it was forgotten.
But now, eighteen years later, Clark still remembered?
Wait... does that mean he actually knows about Krypto? Eden's mind spun. No, that's impossible. Dad's supposed to be Henry Cavill's Superman — the cinematic one, not the comic one! Or… maybe he's something else entirely.
His confusion only deepened.
"Eden!" Clark called warmly, breaking his son's train of thought. "Come on, open the box. See if your father's choice of pet lives up to your expectations."
Eden exhaled slowly. "Alright, calm down," he muttered to himself. "Deep breaths. Inhale… exhale…"
He swallowed hard, placed his hand on the lid, and whispered, "Alright, it's decided. It's you, Krypto."
He lifted the lid.
"Meow~"
Eden froze.
Inside the box was not a white puppy. Instead, nestled comfortably within was a fluffy orange cat, blinking up at him lazily, tail curled like a contented spiral.
Eden stared. "A... cat?"
He tilted his head, completely thrown off. Surely his dad wouldn't go through all this secrecy just for an ordinary orange cat, right? Then again… maybe it really was just that simple.
And for some reason, that thought brought him relief.
An ordinary cat was fine. Great, even. After all the chaos and tension of living as Superman's son, the idea of a harmless pet was the best birthday present imaginable.
Clark noticed his son's stunned silence. "Eden? You don't like it?" he asked, scratching his chin. "Don't young people love cats these days?"
Eden blinked out of his daze. "Huh? No, no — I love it! I really do!"
Clark frowned thoughtfully. "So you prefer dogs, then? Maybe I should've brought him instead…"
Eden nearly dropped the box. 'Him'? There's another one?!
He quickly raised his hands. "No, no, Dad, it's perfect. I absolutely adore this little one!"
Smiling brightly, he scooped up the cat and pressed it against his cheek. The fur was soft, warm, and surprisingly clean — no smell at all. He found himself genuinely charmed.
Then, a familiar ding-dong chimed inside his head.
"Danger! Danger!!"
"Extremely hazardous lifeform detected — Flerken species confirmed!"
"Master, retreat immediately!"
Eden froze mid-pet.
"…What?"
He blinked, staring at the orange cat in disbelief.
Flerken? As in the Marvel Flerken?! The tentacle monster cat from another universe?
His mind went blank for a second before an explosion of confusion hit him. Wait, what?! How the hell is Marvel involved now? Did Dad just bring home an interdimensional creature?!
His gaze shifted back to Clark, who stood there smiling proudly, arms crossed.
And for the first time in his life, Eden looked at his father not as Superman — but as something else entirely. Something beyond Superman.
Dad, he thought in stunned silence, what kind of Superman are you, exactly?
The room fell quiet except for the gentle purring of the "cat," oblivious to the chaos it had just unleashed in Eden's mind.
For the first time in eighteen years — since the day he was reborn into this world — Eden realized he didn't actually know his father at all.
He had always assumed Clark Kent was the noble, straightforward Superman he remembered from the comics and films — the protector of Earth, the paragon of virtue. But every day, that assumption seemed to crumble a little more.
Now, with a Flerken sitting in his arms — a creature that shouldn't even exist in this universe — Eden couldn't help but question everything.
Was his father really Superman?
Or was he something... more?
Clark's smile softened. "You see, son? I told you you'd like it."
"Yeah…" Eden managed, forcing a nervous grin. "I love it. Best birthday ever."
Inside, however, his mind was spinning like a cyclone.
Okay, think, Eden. Flerkens are interdimensional creatures — highly dangerous, capable of storing massive amounts of matter in pocket dimensions inside their bodies. How did Dad even get his hands on one? Did he cross universes? Or... did the universes merge somehow?
He risked a glance at the cat again. It blinked innocently, letting out another soft "meow," as if mocking his confusion.
Eden's expression twitched. Nope. Nope nope nope. This is not normal.
Nolan stepped in again, looking pleased. "See? I told you your father put thought into it."
"Y-Yeah…" Eden stammered. "He sure did."
Too much thought, actually.
Clark chuckled. "Remember, son — take good care of it. It's your responsibility now."
"Of course," Eden said quickly, still smiling through the internal meltdown. "I'll take great care of… uh… them."
"Good," Clark said warmly, completely unaware of the silent crisis unfolding in his son's mind. "You're an adult now, Eden. This marks the beginning of your journey. A new chapter."
He patted Eden on the shoulder — a simple gesture that carried the strength to shatter mountains, though held back with fatherly tenderness.
Eden nodded mechanically, still holding the cat. Sure. A new chapter. In a universe that apparently doesn't obey any rules anymore.
Clark turned to Nolan and smiled. "Well, I think that went pretty well."
Nolan nodded approvingly. "It did. Our little boy's grown up."
As his parents exchanged satisfied looks, Eden glanced down once more at the "ordinary" orange cat in his arms. It stared back up with huge, round eyes.
For a moment, they locked gazes.
The cat purred.
Eden's system beeped again.
"Warning: Flerken energy signature increasing."
"Probability of dimensional breach: 34% and rising."
Eden's smile froze.
Yup, he thought dryly. Definitely not just a cat.
His dad, meanwhile, was humming to himself, oblivious, while his mom cheerfully discussed dinner plans. The whole scene was so painfully domestic that Eden almost laughed — almost.
Dad, he thought, staring at Clark's retreating figure, are you sure you're Superman? Or are you something else entirely — someone even Superman would fear?
The orange cat yawned and nestled against his chest.
Eden sighed. "Happy birthday to me."
For the first time, he wasn't sure if that was a blessing… or the start of a universal headache.
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