Chapter 8 (edited)

When Kara arrived at Clark's school with her adoptive parents, she quickly learned what had happened from Clark's teacher. Apparently, Clark had suddenly run out of class and locked himself inside the storage room in the corridor, refusing to come out.

At least, that's how it looked to everyone else—Clark had run away for no apparent reason.

The teacher tried to coax him out, but when she grabbed the doorknob, it suddenly became hot, leaving her unable to hold it.

This incident caused a stir among the other students. Some of them started whispering, calling Clark a "freak" or "weird," commenting on how no one wanted to play with him.

Even the Kents had always been careful to discourage Clark from playing too much with other kids. It wasn't because they were overly strict—on the contrary, it was because of Kara.

After witnessing Kara's incredible strength firsthand, the Kents were terrified of what might happen if Clark, as her younger brother, accidentally unleashed his own hidden powers while playing with others. The precaution was a way of protecting him, though it was clear that avoidance wouldn't work forever.

Kara glanced at the melted marks on the doorknob and quickly deduced what had happened. Clark must have just awakened his heat vision. She decided to seize the moment to teach him how to control his emerging powers.

While her adoptive father Jonathan went to apologize to the principal, and her adoptive mother Martha stayed behind to talk to Clark's teacher, Kara approached the door, knocked softly, and said, "Clark, it's me—your sister, Kara."

Inside the storage room, Clark raised his head at the sound of her voice. Unintentionally, his x-ray vision activated, and he saw through the door to confirm that it was indeed his sister.

Kara smirked to herself, guessing that Clark was using his powers. She activated her own x-ray vision and saw her little brother sitting on the floor, his hands tightly covering his ears. It was the same reaction she had experienced when she first awakened her super hearing—disoriented and overwhelmed by the flood of noise.

Kara crouched down so that her eyes were level with the height of where Clark was sitting. She spoke softly, her voice gentle. "Clark, are you hearing too many sounds? Is it messy and noisy?"

Clark hesitated before asking, "How do you know?"

Kara shrugged lightly and kept her voice low. "Because I'm your sister. I can hear it too. But it's okay, Clark. All you need to do is focus on one specific sound—the one you want to hear—and the rest will fade into the background."

She paused and added, "It's the same with your eyes. Learn to focus, and you'll be able to control it."

Clark stayed silent for a moment, likely trying to follow her advice.

After a few minutes, the door to the storage room creaked open, revealing a tear-streaked Clark. The little boy's eyes were wide with fear and confusion.

Kara knelt down and hugged him tightly, her heart aching for her little brother.

Although Kara was technically Clark's cousin, they had lived together as siblings for so many years that she had come to see him as her own brother.

"Can you do that too?" Clark asked, his voice trembling with lingering unease.

Today had been overwhelming for him. He had fully awakened his super vision—x-ray vision, microscopic vision, heat vision—and his super hearing all at once, leaving him terrified and confused.

Kara nodded with a reassuring smile. Then, raising her index finger to her lips, she said, "We'll talk about it when we get home, okay? It's our little secret."

Clark nodded and held her hand tightly. The siblings stood quietly together as Martha finished speaking with Clark's teacher.

The teacher, dedicated as ever, had done her best to help Clark and had even burned her hand in the process.

Kara noticed this and walked over. Taking the teacher's hand in hers, she exhaled gently. A cold stream of air flowed over the burn, easing the pain.

The teacher blinked in surprise, looking down at her hand as the discomfort faded. Kara flashed her a playful smile and said, "There, all better."

Super breath—one of Kara's newly mastered abilities—allowed her to exhale either strong gusts of wind or icy air cold enough to extinguish flames. She had once tested it on a lake and easily froze the surface.

The teacher chuckled and gave Kara a light push on the head, amused. "Still as mischievous as ever, I see."

Soon after, Jonathan returned from the principal's office. His gaze lingered on Clark, concern evident in his eyes. After exchanging a few more words with the teacher, the family decided to head home together.

In the car, Jonathan glanced at Kara in the rearview mirror and asked, "You were in class earlier. Are you sure you're okay?"

Kara waved off his concern with a grin. "It's fine, Dad. Besides, didn't you and Mom always say I spend too much time at home? Skipping class once in a while isn't the end of the world."

Martha turned around in her seat and gave Kara a knowing look. "So, does that mean you don't want to go home now either?"

Kara was about to retort when Clark tugged on her hand, his voice cutting through the conversation. "What's wrong with me, Kara? Do Mom and Dad know what's happening to me?"

The car fell silent.

Kara hesitated, knowing that Clark was still too young to handle the truth. She sighed and said, "No, Clark. It's just that something happened to you and me when we were little, so we're... special."

Jonathan and Martha exchanged relieved glances. The truth—that they were Clark and Kara's adoptive parents, not their biological ones—was something they weren't ready to reveal yet.

On the drive home, Kara explained how Clark could control his super hearing and super vision. She also shared how sunlight strengthened them both, encouraging Clark to spend time outside. "But remember," she warned, "don't show off your powers. You have to learn to control them first."

"Actually," she added with a sly smile, "I've been learning a few fighting techniques. Maybe I'll teach you someday."

Jonathan frowned in confusion. "Fighting techniques?"

Kara stuck out her tongue. "Oops, slipped out."

She knew that both she and Clark were destined for extraordinary things. One day, they would become heroes. Until then, she planned to prepare as best she could.