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Going Ghost! (Young Justice) Chapter 138: Lunch in the Clouds
🕑 Added 2025-10-31 04:30:38 +0000 UTC[Third Person POV]
Danny was sitting on top of a cloud with his legs crossed, his arms loosely resting on his knees as he looked down at the world below. The city lights blinked faintly beneath the blanket of dusk, a sea of gold and silver that seemed so far removed from the peace of the skies. “So this is how he does it, huh?” Danny muttered to himself with a smirk. “He just pretends to sit down—he’s actually levitating his butt so he doesn’t fall through the cloud.”
“I believe the term you’re looking for is misdirection,” came a calm, amused voice from behind him. Superman floated into view, cape fluttering lazily in the soft wind as he carried two oversized Big Belly Burger bags. “Everyone’s so focused on the fact that I’m sitting on a cloud, they fail to realize I'm not actually sitting.”
He landed beside Danny—or rather, pretended to. The cloud rippled faintly beneath him but held steady, like the illusion it was. With a small grin, Superman handed one of the bags over. “Here you go: a Big Belly Burger deluxe. No onions, extra pickles, and extra sauce on the side. Just like you asked.”
Danny reached out lazily, the bag floating over to him through a soft pulse of telekinetic energy. “Thank you,” he said, unwrapping his meal. “There’s no appetite quite like a dead man’s appetite. Appreciate the quick delivery.” The items—burger, fries, and soda—hovered neatly around him, orbiting like obedient satellites.
Superman “sat” beside him, his posture relaxed, and began to eat his own meal. For a few quiet moments, neither of them spoke. The only sounds were the faint crinkle of wrappers and the occasional rustle of Superman’s cape in the wind. Danny glanced sideways and caught the Man of Steel lightly swinging his legs over the edge of the cloud, looking down at the world below as if it were something fragile and precious.
The sky was a breathtaking blend of orange, purple, and gold—the meeting point of night and day. A soft breeze moved through the air, carrying with it the distant hum of civilization below. For a fleeting moment, it almost felt like nothing was wrong with the world. Almost.
Danny stared at his burger before he stared at Superman for a moment and sighed. “You know,” he said quietly, “for what it’s worth, I didn’t mind today. Hanging out with you. It was… nice. Fun, even, all things considered. So, thanks.”
Superman looked over at him for a moment, his eyes kind, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He didn’t respond right away—just took another bite and wiped his mouth with a napkin, his thoughts turning inward. ‘Is he trying to cheer me up because he thinks I’m disappointed that he was forced to be here instead of choosing to come?’
He exhaled softly, smiling to himself. $To still think about someone else’s feelings, even after everything he’s been through… What a good kid.’
“One thing I always try to remind myself,” Superman said finally, his tone warm but thoughtful, “is to make the best of every situation, no matter how bad it looks. I’m glad I could share that with you today.”
Danny took a slow bite, chewing quietly as he gazed at the endless horizon. He didn’t look at Superman right away, just spoke after a moment’s silence. “How do you do it?” he asked softly. “Be so positive all the time. Keep making the ‘best of every situation.’ Doesn’t it ever… get exhausting?”
Superman chuckled under his breath, though his smile carried a touch of weariness. “I won’t lie and say it doesn’t,” he admitted. “Even for someone like me, it can get heavy. Despite being from the stars…” He paused, glancing toward the setting sun. “…I like to think that deep down, I’m just human too.”
Superman looked down at the city beneath them — the faint glow of Metropolis flickering like constellations scattered across the ground — before continuing.
“People think being Superman means being invincible. That nothing gets to me. But the truth is, it’s the opposite. I feel everything — every cry for help, every bit of pain, every loss. Some days it weighs so heavy it feels like even I can’t lift it.”
Danny glanced sideways, watching the Man of Steel’s expression soften as he spoke. Superman smiled faintly, not the confident grin the world knew, but something gentler — vulnerable, even.
“The trick,” Superman went on, “is not pretending that it doesn’t hurt. It’s accepting that it does… and choosing to keep moving anyway. Because if I stop — even for a second — if I start believing that all the pain and struggle means nothing, then I lose sight of what I’m fighting for.”
He took another small bite of his burger, then looked back at Danny. “Positivity isn’t some endless well I draw from. It’s a choice. Every single day. Some days it’s easy — some days it’s not. But I remind myself that if I can give people even a moment of hope… that moment might be what keeps them going. And that’s worth the exhaustion.”
Danny’s drink hovered beside him, a straw angled perfectly toward his mouth. He took a slow sip and raised a brow at Superman. “Just how many speeches have you given that it all just comes natural to you?” he teased.
Superman’s shoulders dropped in mock defeat. “At this point? I already lost count…” he said with a light chuckle, playing along.
They both laughed quietly, the sound fading into the gentle hum of the wind around them. Afterward, a comfortable silence settled in again—two figures eating fast food on a cloud like it was the most normal thing in the world.
Danny popped another fry into his mouth, and that’s when Superman spoke again, his tone careful but curious. “If you don’t mind me asking,” he began, glancing over, “what exactly happened that made Batman send you over to me? He seemed… rather hesitant last night.”
Danny froze mid-bite, his jaw tightening. His gaze slowly shifted toward Superman, who was now watching him with genuine concern. For a moment, Danny didn’t say anything. He just stared, debating whether this was worth talking about—or if silence would be easier. The longer he hesitated, the more visibly awkward Superman became.
Superman cleared his throat softly. “I’m sorry,” he said, raising a hand. “Forget I asked. I have a bad habit of overstepping without realizing it sometimes.”
Danny blinked, and a small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. ‘Wow… sometimes I forget he really is a socially inept farm boy from Kansas.’ The thought amused him, though there was a strange warmth to it.
Even if Superman was supposed to be a stranger to him in this world, it didn’t feel that way. Not to Danny. He’d grown up with Superman’s stories, watching his battles, his triumphs, his failures—his humanity. To Danny, sitting here beside him felt less like meeting a stranger and more like having lunch with someone who had always been a part of his life.
He let out a long sigh. “I kinda… snapped this morning,” he admitted, voice low. “There was this guy—Dash. Things got out of hand, and I got suspended. For a month…”
Superman’s expression didn’t change as Danny went into great detail of what had happened. He just listened quietly, his attention undivided.
Danny scoffed as he finished off the last bite of his burger and crumpled the wrapper. “Knowing Batman, I can already guess why he sent me here. Probably thought I needed some kind of ‘self-control training.’”
Superman gave a short, knowing laugh. “Yeah, that sounds like a Bruce move, all right.”
Danny didn’t return the laugh. He stared straight ahead, gripping the paper bag in his hands. The idea of disappointing another one of his heroes—especially Superman—was unbearable. The thought alone made his chest tighten. He couldn’t bring himself to look over, afraid of seeing disapproval in those blue eyes.
But Superman didn’t look disappointed. If anything, he looked thoughtful—empathetic, even.
“Can I say something?” Superman asked gently. “And promise you won’t take it the wrong way? You can tell me if I’m off base.”
Danny frowned, curious despite himself, and gave a small nod for him to continue.
Superman hesitated briefly, then said, “Do you think what really set you off during that confrontation… was when your bully called Bruce your ‘Daddy’?” He even made air quotes at the end, his tone gentle but direct.
Danny’s reaction was immediate. “What?!” he practically screeched, turning to Superman like he’d just sprouted a second head. “Of course not! I don’t care about that… You’re… wrong!”
But his voice wavered.
Superman’s brow furrowed slightly, his enhanced hearing catching the subtle crack of uncertainty beneath Danny’s denial.
Danny looked down, his eyes fixed on the empty bag crumpled between his hands. His brows drew together. “Did that really trigger me?” he murmured to himself. “But why would it? I know Bruce isn’t my dad. Obviously. So why would it bother me?”
The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became. The idea didn’t make sense—
Danny shook his head abruptly, standing up. His aura flickered faintly, a faint green light humming around his hands as the trash and leftover food incinerated into harmless wisps of energy.
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly, not meeting Superman’s eyes. “I just… I need to be alone right now.” He paused before adding, “Same time and place tomorrow?”
Superman hesitated, clearly reluctant to let him go, but he could see that pushing wouldn’t help. What Danny needed now wasn’t comfort—it was space.
“Of course,” Superman said softly. “Take your time.”
Danny nodded faintly. “Thanks for lunch,” he muttered, and before Superman could respond, his form shimmered and vanished into the air—gone in an instant, leaving nothing but the faint echo of his presence.
Comments
firerock laser
Please explain what you mean
Rogue_Eagle99
. $To still think about someone else’s feelings, All that $$$ needs to go
