17746/A Day in the Life of Heroes

A Day in the Life of Heroes
Date of Scene:	23 April 2024
Location:	Midtown - New Troy
Synopsis:	M'gann backs up Superboy in thwarting a robbery, then the two retreat to converse among the butterflies.
Cast of Characters:	Jon Kent, M'gann M'orzz

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Jon Kent has posed:
After some serious waffling, Spring seems to finally have made the decision to emerge. This morning a gorgeous sun shines down on Metropolis seemingly forgiving the sins of winter, renewing people's hearts and minds for a season of growth. The streets and sidewalks are bustling with people going about their lives with sunshine-enhanced optimism.

And where is Jon today? At class like a good college student, right. Well, nope, actually. He has been having difficulty sleeping and concentrating lately and so he is skipping his morning classes. Instead, Superboy is hovering up in the middle atmosphere absorbing Rao's life-giving rays of sun. Anyone who could be that high up and observe the young man might wonder if he is sleeping, just floating in the air with his eyes closed. But in full view of Sol's glare, nothing could be farther from the truth. His body, thrumming with power, is listening to everything below him. He is practicing filtering out sounds.

And speaking of sounds, an alarm from a Hermes store followed by a single gunshot reaches Superboy's ears. His eyes open. Who would be involved in such an incident on a bright, sunny Monday morning in a city where the Justice League has its headquarters? One might be able to blink an eye before Superboy's body begins to surge downward toward the sounds. *Might* be able to.

Landing on a clearing on the sidewalk vacated by fleeing citizens, Superboy peers around. He sees two masked men departing the store. They are carrying a sack of the rare, exclusive Birkin bags. He frowns. Why put people in danger over purses, Jon wonders in confusion.

"Bitch, you shouldn't have set off the alarm," one of the masked bandits growls as he lifts his gun and shoots into the store, which hasn't even opened for business for the day yet. Jon blinks. Seriously?

Superboy watches the bullet eject from the gun. His heart beats once. He begins to run forward toward the path of the bullet. The bullet travels six inches. His heart beats twice. Superboy peers into the store and sees that a woman who presumably works at the shop is directly in the path of the projectile. The bullet travels another six inches. His heart beats a third time. All around him, fleeing citizens who are operating in normal time are frozen like some sort of sick parody. The bullet travels another six inches. The young hero's heart beats again.

Superboy reaches out and grabs the piping hot bullet out of the air. Of course he doesn't feel a thing. Then, like water rushing in from a burst dam, time resumes its normal pace and Jon's senses are bombarded by the motion and sounds of people yelling and running in all directions. For a brief moment he is overwhelmed by it.

M'gann M'orzz has posed:
On such a day as today, M'gann counts her blessings that she has no morning classes until Wednesday. Not that she will always be so lucky, but with finals in two weeks, most of her classes allowing for 'independent study' with optional office hours for those that need the extra help. Which means that M'gann has mornings off until Wednesday!

She had been contemplating trying the new bakery that opened adjacent to Planet Herowood. Supposedly they have donuts in the shapes of your favorite heroes! It has her intrigued, to say the least. She strolls casually along the sidewalk, one face in a sea of humanity, an alien hiding in the open, blending in. Close enough that she can smell the fresh baked donuts...

Until the piercing alarm breaks the pleasantry of the day. She pauses, looks towards the Hermes shop, just a few doors beyond the bakery, on the opposite side of the road. The gunman, the shouting, the people scattering every which way. Foot traffic is increasingly frantic as people run from the robbery in progress. Except for Megan. One lone young woman in the tide, standing still, but unjostled. And as the waves of humanity continue to crash onward, the lone rock amidst the movement.. fades away.

Most people can't really tell when a hero has arrived until they're there. M'gann is not most people. She can hear the sound of the air whipping around Superboy's form, hear the rippling of the cape, sense his approach, her mind touching on a familiar one. But she stays back, not involving herself. Giving him the opportunity to handle the situation. She hears the explosion that sends the bullet screaming out towards the shop girl. Can see Superboy moving to intercept, plucking it out of the air. She smiles.

Then he hesitates. Her mind reaches out once more, a gentle touch, finding him struggling with his senses, overwhelmed by the sudden rush out sounds and lights and motion. The smile fades and M'gann lets her presence be known to him. A soothing balm against jangled nerves as she reaches out to help steady him in that moment. He can practically feel her hand against his cheek. And then he hears her voice, breaking through the cacophony to reach out, mind to mind.

<<<Shhhhhhhhh.. breathe. Focus on your heartbeat. Just yours. There.. now the girl's. She's behind you. That's it. Now his. He's angry. Afraid. Desperate. You know what to do. Focus. You have this.>>>

Jon Kent has posed:
To any outside observer there would be no noticeable interchange between M'gann and Jon, two people who have shared so much between them on many different levels. But internally, M'gann's welcome mind touch steadies the still-developing superhero. Yes, he hears the woman's heartbeat. She is terrified. He can smell her fear-sweat and hear the rapid heartbeat and respirations, each one unique and distinct from each other. Then, for a moment imperceptibly too small for the surrounding citizens to discern, Jon is angry. Superboy, who numbers among the physically strongest beings on the planet, feels a burst of rage. How dare this man cause all of this chaos and terror over some /purses/?!? Jon grits his teeth and the shooter never knows how close he came to an untimely end -- literally just a squeeze of adrenalin more and this still-growing, still-developing young half-Kryptonian might have done something final that he would have regretted for the rest of his existence.

Perhaps it is M'gann's soothing telepathy that just saved the life of this attacker and saved the Jon's soul. When she touches his mind, Jon remembers laughter and running and playing and...well...other things that two people who are close do together. M'gann might even hear Jon's heartbeat slow.

All of this happens in seconds.

Superboy reaches out and grabs the gun from the attacker with a force that the mortal human could never hope to resist. The crushed and useless gun is already falling toward the ground. "Do you two want to sit down on the sidewalk?" Superboy asks them, his tone of voice surprisingly gentle. "Or do I need to put you there?"

Like synchronous swimmers doing a well-practiced routine, both robbers instantly sit down on the sidewalk in front of Superboy.

M'gann M'orzz has posed:
She can feel everything he feels, the boon and bane of an empath. That jump of adrenaline. The rush of anger, of rage. She feels it as if it were hers. And she counters with images of happier times. Calmer times. She doesn't invade his mind for his memories, she shares her own. The day they met. The warmth of feeling she had for a stranger, a young man's kindness that lead to a conversation, to a reluctant parting with plans to meet again. Of a day on campus, an impromptu snow fight amongst friends on the quad and how they were swept up into the fun of it. Shared laughter, shared smiles, shared intimacy.

He has this. And she smiles as she watches him handle the robbers with great restraint and gentility. He has this.

M'gann watches him as they wait for the police to arrive. To take the robbers into custody. To take statements from the crowd, from the shop girl, from Superboy. It isn't safe to be an alien in the US just now. The events at the Starport proved that much. At least, not an alien that *looks* like an alien. So M'gann stays hidden, invisible.

But Jon knows where she is, can sense her presence as clearly as if she were outlined in bright neon with confetti and balloons everywhere. She doesn't hide from him. And when the police have taken the robbers away and the statements have been given, she will be waiting, if he wants to talk.

Jon Kent has posed:
Taught by none other than Superman himself to respect civil authority, Superboy keeps the two men detained until the police arrive and then he fully cooperates with their every request. He defers completely to them, leaving them no reason to regret crossing paths with the young hero. But no doubt M'gann can sense that Jon just wants to be away from here. He is shaken by the anger he felt, even though the memory of what it felt like is cascading away like sand sifting away through one's fingers. When the police finally tell Superboy he is free to go, the young man shoots upward into the air fast enough to blow some people's hair askew and maybe knock one of the police officer's hats off.

<< Come with me, Megan? Please? >> he thinks, projecting those thoughts to the surface of his mind.

Within a moment or two, Superboy is standing on a tall rooftop half a mile from the scene of the robbery. The morning breeze shifts his cape gently.

M'gann M'orzz has posed:
M'gann is patient, waiting for him to be released from questions and gratitude, maintaing the invisibility, the intangibility. But also mantaining that connection with him. Always there at the back of him mind, a soothing presence to help him get through the interminable process. When he's finally released, he shoots upward, and she follows him. She can sense the tension, the frustration, and the upset he feels.

<<<I'm right here, Jon. I'll follow.>>>

And she does, matching his speed as he zips through the air to one of the taller buildings in Metropolis. Once he lands, M'gann follows suit, finally revealing herself in the relative safety of the remote-ish location. The auburn hair, the green skin, the amber eyes, the costume. Looking up at him, she smiles. "You handled that well. Saved the girl, caught the bad guys, you even managed to get through the lengthy police interviews with grace and respect. It was amazing to see."

Jon Kent has posed:
A frown. We all see our own worst traits, even paladins like Jon Kent. "I came so close to hurting that man," Jon insists, his mind rippling with frustration and guilt. "Who even /knows/ what would have happened if you weren't there." He starts to pace. Unbidden, images flood Jon's mind of what might have happened.

He stops pacing and turns toward M'gann. "I have to tell my dad about this. He needs to know what just happened. Maybe...maybe I need to be confined to the Fortress until we can figure out what's wrong with me. I haven't...haven't slept a good night's sleep in a week. I can't remember things I read. I haven't even /started/ my Urban Sociology essay, which is due in two weeks and is 50% of my grade."

M'gann M'orzz has posed:
M'gann watches him pace and catches the flood of images from his mind. Her smile fades to a more neutral expression, one of concern for him. For his well-being. Keeping her expression smooth, however, for his benefit. She steps in closer as he turns towards her, lifting one hand to cup his cheek.

"You would have persevered, Jon. You would have handled it exactly as you did. I didn't stop you, or save you... I just reminded you of the things you already knew." The smile returns, small but warm, "You don't need to be confined. Anger is *normal*. If you think your father is never angry, you're wrong. Just like you, he feels anger, he feels rage and upset. And just like you, he sets it aside to do the *right thing*."

He continues on, and her brows furrow together slightly before the hand at his cheek shifts, two fingers pressing against his lips until he stops and looks at her. M'gann reaches down, taking his hand in hers, "Come with me." Her lips turn up into that warm, caring smile once more. She starts to float up into the air, gently urging him to join her, "I want to show you something. Please."

Jon Kent has posed:
I mean, who gets to just walk up to Superboy while he is in public and in full uniform and touch him? The list is small and exclusive, and M'gann occupies the very top of it. All remnants of the encounter below fade from Jon's mind, and much like the once-again busy sidewalk in front of the Hermes shop, no trace remains of what just happened save for a broken shop window. In Jon's mind, too, there is a broken window that will take some time to repair.

Seeing the Martian float upwards, Jon smiles. He, too, floats into the air trusting M'gann fully. "Alright," he says in his gentle Jon voice, that smile still lingering on his lips. "Let's go."

M'gann M'orzz has posed:
Returning his smile, M'gann nods and they head off into the sky, flying out over the Metropolis skyline. She keeps her hand in his, giving him that physical touchpoint, even though they remain connected on a mental level as well. She opens up to him, not just skimming off the surface of his own mind, but sharing hers with him as well.

For now, it's filled with affection and caring, concern for him, and an eager anticipation to show him something that she finds amazing. It doesn't take long before they're approaching a strange, greenhouse-like structure on top of a building away from the center of the city. Guiding him down onto the rooftop, M'gann walks with Jon to the structure and opens the door to usher him inside, quickly following and carefully closing the door after herself.

The interior is a beautifully and carefully cared for garden that plays host to trees, bush, and flowers of all kinds. The 'floor' is a carpet of soft moss and sweet clover, the air redolent with a dozen different sweet and earthy scents. Smiling at Jon, M'gann put a finger to her lips and leads him quietly, carefully, to the center of the garden. A small clearing found within. Seating herself in the moss and clover, she urges him down next to her.

<<<Be very quiet, and very still.. it's about to begin...>>> Her voice is soft in his head, as if she's whispering even when it's just them.

Jon won't have long to wait, either, he can hear the soft whirr and click of a system coming to life, a pause that hangs in the air, filled with the anticipation of what's to come... and then the susseration of hundreds of tiny wings beating as the air is filled with butterflies! All manner of specimens in all sizes and colors and patterns. It's a living rainbow as they flutter and flap, seeking out flowers to drink from, to pollinate.

M'gann watches with a sort of simple, pure amazement as they fill the air around them. And soon enough, Jon will start to find himself host to dozens of curious butterflies come to inspect the large new 'flower' in their midst! M'gann wears more than a few butterflies herself, head turning to beam across at him with pure joy and amusement over their newfound decorations.

She sits like that for a few minutes, just reveling in the beautiful chaos of the garden scene before she murmurs, "This is the world for people like us, you know..." She lifts her free hand in time to provide a platform for a swallowtail butterfly to land on, watching the insect with a smile. "Surrounded by beings that might as well be made of tissue paper, so delicate, so chaotic. But there's beauty in it. Joy. Amazement." Smiling, she watches as the butterfly takes off again, then turns that smile towards Jon. "Never be afraid of your own emotions, Jon. They're yours, and rightfully so. Giving in to the fear of them will only drive you away from the world. As easy as it would be for us to ruin or destroy this world, we have to be part of it. We have to see what it is we fight for. So we tread carefully, and we remind ourselves why we tread carefully. And why we need to be in the world, not just looking inside from without."

Jon Kent has posed:
Fully trusting M'gann and more than a bit curious, Jon enters the structure. His super senses pick up a thousand distinct odors in this chamber. Just like with his super hearing, it takes him some time and effort to filter and sort. Some of the smells he can identify, some are familiar but mysterious, and most he does not recognize. He takes the proffered seat next to M'gann and waits. She likely can feel the anticipation and giddy nervousness. Then just as the air erupts with butterflies in a syncytium of dancing colors, Jon's face blooms with a genuine, honest carefree smile. << It's amazing! >> is as much as he is able to put into words, though behind the primitive thought is a sea of whirling emotions.

To a Kryptonian, the humans are frail things, as M'gann observed, and these tiny winged creatures are an order of magnitude frailer than that. With utmost gentleness and care, Jon slowly and gingerly rotates his hand around as the little investigators crawl about on him. << They're so peaceful, living their lives in this protected microcosm. Would it be a blessing or a curse to live in such blissful ignorance? >>

M'gann M'orzz has posed:
<<<You tell me, Jon. Humans live in much the same manner on Earth. Worrying only about themselves, their only enemies each other... their planet is their little garden. It's their world, even though there's a vast universe beyond it.>>> M'gann smiles at him and lifts a careful shrug, enjoying watching him with the butterflies. She gives his hand a gentle squeeze and looks around the little rooftop sanctuary. Enjoying the peace and joy to be found here, at least for a few minutes.

Looking back to Jon, she smiles. <<<You worry about your anger, and about hurting people.. killing them. But that worry is exactly what tells me that you won't. You care too much to *really* hurt them. To kill them. If I hadn't been there, you would have stopped yourself.>>> He can feel the touch to his cheek even though she hasn't moved. <<<Have more faith in yourself. I do.>>>

A butterfly settles itself on her nose, wings opening and closing in slow beats that cover her eyes and make her laugh. Silently, trying to not disturb the creature as it rests for a few moments before fluttering off again. Glancing sidelong at him, she watches, still chuckling internally. <<<Would you like to come to the apartment? I can make some lunch, then we can put on a movie and maybe you can get in a nap. When you're awake, I'll help you start your essay.>>>

Jon Kent has posed:
Although Jon is watching the butterflies crawling on his hand and arm while M'gann speaks telepathically to him, she would certainly sense that he is focusing on her words carefully. His other hand is holding hers. Kryptonians generate more body heat than humans, so his skin might feel almost feverish by human standards.

<< If I so much as shook my hand too hard it would kill these creatures. And then their wings wouldn't beat anymore, and those tiny puffs of breeze wouldn't flow out into the world to fade out or grow huge. >> He takes in a deep breath and lets out a slow sigh. << A lot of people watch the news and probably wish they could be me. Sometimes I feel like I would give anything to be normal. >>

He slowly stands, and as he does the butterflies on his hand and arm flitter off to take care of official butterfly business. He peers down at M'gann with fatigued by content eyes. << I'd really like that. You spoil me. >>