Stay curious

At least Lo caught on to and respected that. A little tension left Zatanna, glad she wouldn’t have to rehash everything all over again. It would be just her luck for Zach to start publicizing the truth he now knew, and it would probably be in her best interest to start telling people the story, but… she couldn’t force herself to again. “Thank you.” She said softly, in an uncharacteristically small voice.

“I know she’s up to no good. There’d be no reason for her to potentially provoke me by attack me if she didn’t want me to know my place, and why else would she want that? I’ve been in this business a long time, Lo, sometimes I just know when things are going downhill, when someone has bad intentions…” It felt inadequate to all say aloud, but it really did all come down to instinct and the few encounters they’d had already. She shook her head.

“No, he’s not. But she could be subtle with it all, or be manipulating him, or outright controlling his mind… or he could be in on it. I don’t know. He’s already got recognition, and support, that’s not a bad ally for her to have, but I don’t know what he wants from it all.”

“Zee, come on, how long have we known one another?” Lois smiles and gives her arm a squeeze. Zee was close to her age, but still Lois was a mom, she was everyone’s mom, basically. Lois didn’t really work in the realm of vibes which seemed to make up a lot of the place where Zee usually inhabited. But Lois trusted her intrinsically, without question. “So she’s… up to no good? But no specifics beyond that? I want to — I want to research her.” “Does he want anything from it? I mean It’s been a long time since I’ve really talked to Zach but he was always looking for the same thing, Zee. Essentially someone to love and adore him,” She shrugs. “Could be as a simple as that?”

“Well, consider letting me protect you a way to protect me from being hurt emotionally,” he said stubbornly. He put his hands on his hips, trying to show that he was strong, but the stance was at odds with the pleading look in his eyes. 

“I’m not out there saving the world. I’m just here to keep my mom safe.” When she relented, his eyes went a bit wide and his hands dropped back to his sides. “Yes, mom. Of course.” He was deliberately vague in the wording, as if anything happened he would grab his mom before he went. He knew that might mess up her job, but he wasn’t taking any risks.

Lois kept telling herself that Jon would be fine. He was basically invincible and what? One of the escapees had kryptonite in his pocket? Unlikely. But she couldn’t shut off her mom instinct that said that he shouldn’t be here. He should be home, tucked in safe, maybe sneaking a midnight snack. But she knew why he was doing this. Clark wasn’t here. Without Clark around - he couldn’t be sure she was safe. She hated that. She also worried someone would see them together, see him as a metahuman saving her from... something. She didn’t want anyone to know.

“I can’t just leave you here!” he protested. “Besides, I’m the one that’s bulletproof. I’m not in any real danger.” He turned to his mom, worry spelled clearly across his face. 

“Please, mom. It’s my job to protect you, but I’m not as good as dad. What if I react too late? What if something happens to you, and I don’t hear it until you’re hurt?”

“It’s my job to be here, Jon. You are 16 years old, and that means when I leave you at home, alone, I expect you to be able to follow the rules without being told,” She says shaking her head. “Jon, It’s not!” She snaps before taking a deep breath, reaching out and cupping his face.

“Sweetheart, It’s not your job to protect me. It’s mine to protect you,” She says, her tone more gentle. She didn’t mean to snap at him. He has gotten this hero complex from Clark, how could he not. And it was — so sweet. He was a good kid.

“We have had this discussion, haven’t we? It’s not your job to save the world. Including me,” She knew how it would look if she let him tag along but she would be worried he would be off breaking the rules somewhere else, if he wasn’t worried about her, he’d be worried about Damian or Diana, or Donna — the list went on. “The slightest hint of more trouble,” She looks at him. “Hear me?”

Jon was maybe a little worried. Okay, scratch that, he was freaking out. It wasn’t the first time his mom had done something like this, but his dad was off world. He wouldn’t be able to save her. It would be up to Jon. He glanced around the house, keeping an ear on the situation and making a decision. 

Moments later, he was walking up behind her, hoping nobody noticed him emerge from that abandoned alleyway. 

“You forgot your coat,” he said weakly, holding out the red fabric he had gifted her not too long ago.

“I cannot believe you are out here right now, what on earth possessed you to leave the house and come closer to this nonsense?” But he was holding out her coat and he had that little anxiety look to his brow and so she reigned in some of her frustration and took the coat from him, shrugging into it. Her phone went off and she reached for it. “Jon, fires are breaking out there are armed inmates not too far from here. You have to go home,” she begs.

Her surprise lasted only a second. “Jonathan Samuel Kent! What are you doing here?! You need to go home RIGHT now.”