Chapter 38: The Truth Above the Clouds
The morning passed in quiet normalcy, as if the events of the night before hadn't completely changed something between them. Laura didn't say much, and Ethan didn't push. But there was a weight in the air, something unspoken lingering between them.
After breakfast, Ethan stood up and stretched.
"I'll be back in a few minutes," he said, ruffling Lily's hair. "Come on, kid."
Lily beamed up at him and took his hand without hesitation. "Where are we going, Brother Ethan?"
He smiled. "To meet someone special."
Laura frowned slightly, watching as he walked toward the door with the little girl. "Where are you taking her?"
Ethan glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "Somewhere safe."
And with that, he left.
---
It only took him seconds to reach his destination.
His childhood home.
A cozy house with a front porch, surrounded by trees that swayed gently in the morning breeze. It wasn't grand, wasn't extravagant. But it was home.
As soon as he landed, the door opened, and his mother stepped out, wiping her hands on a kitchen towel. Her warm, familiar eyes widened in surprise when she saw the little girl in his arms.
"Ethan?"
"Mom," Ethan greeted casually, setting Lily down gently. "I need you to take care of her for a while."
His mother blinked. "Who is she?"
Lily smiled shyly. "I'm Lily."
"She's special," Ethan said simply. "And she needs a place where she can feel safe."
His mother frowned slightly, glancing between them. "Ethan, what's going on?"
"I'll explain later." He bent down, meeting Lily's eyes. "Be good, alright? I'll be back for you."
Lily nodded. "Okay, Brother Ethan!"
His mother hesitated but eventually sighed, giving in to that quiet, stubborn look he always had when he was serious about something.
Ethan kissed her cheek. "Thanks, Mom."
And before she could ask anything else, he was already gone.
---
Back at home, Laura was sitting on her bed, arms crossed, her mind racing with unanswered questions.
When she heard the door open, she looked up sharply. Ethan stepped inside, his expression calm but determined.
Her eyes immediately scanned behind him. "Where's Lily?"
Ethan met her gaze. "I took her to my mother's home."
Laura frowned. "Why?"
"Because she'll be safe there." He stepped closer, his voice quieter now. "And because we need to talk."
Laura stiffened slightly. Here it is.
"You wanted to know about me, right?" Ethan said, his voice calm, steady.
Her heart picked up speed.
"Then let's go."
Before she could question him, he moved.
In one smooth motion, he swept her off her feet, his arms sliding beneath her knees and back. A princess carry.
"Ethan—" she started, eyes widening.
"Hold on."
And then—
The ground disappeared beneath them.
---
Flight Like No Other
Laura gasped as they shot into the sky, the world shrinking below them. At first, her grip on Ethan tightened, her heart racing from the sheer shock of it.
But as seconds passed, she started to process what was happening.
They weren't just moving—they were soaring.
The wind wasn't harsh against her skin. Instead, it felt like she was wrapped in a protective warmth, cocooned in an invisible shield that kept her comfortable.
She tilted her head slightly, looking down. The city sprawled below like a map, its streets and buildings blending into patterns.
Her lips parted in awe.
"Ethan… this is…" She couldn't even find the words.
Ethan smirked. "Breathtaking?"
She didn't answer, but she didn't deny it either.
Instead of rushing ahead, Ethan took his time. He let her experience it—the feeling of weightlessness, of absolute freedom.
For a long moment, she just let herself feel.
Flying.
Actually flying.
Ethan shifted his arms slightly, adjusting her weight effortlessly. "You're not scared?"
Laura scoffed. "You think I scare easy?"
Ethan chuckled. "Not at all."
He twirled midair, causing the world to spin around them. Laura let out a startled laugh, the exhilaration replacing her usual guardedness.
It was unlike anything she had ever known.
And then, just when she was getting used to it—
The blue sky darkened.
They were leaving the atmosphere.
---
Mars & The Underground Wonder
When the red planet came into view, Laura tensed. "Wait… is that—?"
"Mars," Ethan confirmed.
Before she could ask more, they descended. The red landscape stretched beneath them—vast, untouched, silent.
But instead of landing on the open surface, Ethan guided them toward a rocky canyon.
And then—
They passed through solid rock.
Laura stiffened in shock, but the moment they did, the world changed.
Instead of barren wasteland, an underground city spread before them—glowing with soft golden lights, filled with strange, elegant structures carved into the rock. The ceiling shimmered like a false sky, and the air felt fresh, almost… alive.
Laura's jaw tightened. "This place…"
"I found it long ago," Ethan said quietly. "its my palace and it's the closest thing I have to a Kryptonian home."
Laura slowly took it in, her eyes flickering across the impossible beauty of it.
Then, Ethan carried her toward a sleek, silver structure—a spaceship resting at the heart of the city.
As they entered, the doors slid open soundlessly. The interior was pristine, smooth, glowing softly.
And waiting inside—
Two figures.
---
Meeting the Kryptonians
The man stood tall, his piercing blue eyes holding an air of authority. The woman beside him had long, dark hair and an elegance that made her seem almost regal.
Laura instinctively stepped closer to Ethan. "Who are they?"
Ethan exhaled. "My real parents."
Laura's heart slammed against her chest.
"What—?"
"They're AI projections," Ethan clarified. "A recreation of my Kryptonian parents, based on memory and data."
The woman smiled warmly. "You must be Laura."
Laura frowned. "How do you—?"
"I've seen you through Ethan's memories," the AI version of Lara said gently.
Laura turned to Ethan, her mind reeling.
The woman—Lara—stepped forward. "I thought… if my daughter-in-law was a mutant, she should have something suitable to wear."
Laura froze.
"…What?"
Lara held out a folded suit—sleek, black, and laced with glowing lines of silver.
"I designed it with your abilities in mind," Lara continued. "It will adapt to your movements, your strength. Consider it… a gift."
Laura stared at the suit, then at Ethan.
"…Daughter-in-law?" she repeated blankly.
Ethan rubbed the back of his head, smirking slightly. "Yeah… about that."
Laura's mind was spinning.