Title: Beneath the Sun, On this Earth I Love
Fandom: Superman (DC Comics)
Rating: G
Length: ~ 450
Author notes: Clark/Lois family time. Written for the prompt Warmth.
Summary: Superman hovers above the STAR Labs complex, casting his gaze towards the distance, and just takes his time to listen.

The sun is setting over Metropolis, tinging the buildings that are bright and shiny in daylight with a warm glow. Superman hovers above the STAR Labs complex, casting his gaze towards the distance, and just takes his time to listen. When he lets the sounds wash over him like this it’s like the heartbeat of the city – soft murmurs of conversations, songs, arguments, traffic noise, people working, typing, cutting, packing, walking, running, breathing… It all blends into one melody that’s always there – sometimes loud and desperate, sometimes muted and sad. Today it’s peaceful.

Nobody’s crying out to him. A police siren starts up but even the radio messages he catches are nothing that needs his attention.

So he hovers in the last light of the sun, smiling to himself. His cape flapping behind him in the gentle breeze is the only noise that stands out from the roaring that’s life on this planet.

The only sound until a gentle note cuts in – a voice that stands out among all others and he focuses on it immediately.

“It’s a quiet night, Clark,” Lois says, speaking to herself. “Why don’t you head home? Your son wants waffles for dinner and I’m not fighting this battle alone, okay?”

He chuckles.

It’s easy enough to hone in on the familiar heartbeats, Jon’s footsteps as he bounds around the corner to say: “Mom, I did my homework!”

He takes in the sight of the peaceful metropolis before him, takes a millisecond to listen for any major disasters around the world – and is relieved that nothing needs his immediate attention.

With a bright smile, he rushes home – hovering here one moment, standing in his civilian identity in his home’s living room the next.

Lois grins at him from the kitchen and takes a sip from her cup that has the Daily Planet logo on it. “Hey,” she says, “that was quick.”

“No traffic jam today,” he jokes and walks over to her to wrap her arms around her. “Waffles for dinner?”

“I feel we may be able to negotiate for pizza.”

“Sounds fair,” he says and chuckles, while Jon runs in, shouting: “Dad!”

The joy to be home, to enjoy a peaceful moment with the woman he loves, with his family, while the noise song of the world becomes a tranquil hum in the background warms his heart. This is what gives him strength as much as the rays of the sun – and he’ll bask in it whenever he can.