He was flying above the mountains, out over the town toward the farm, and he was fast. He was racing the sunset and as the warm glowing star sank below the horizon he hovered above the barn soaking up it’s rays and feeling so alive thanks to them. A soft smile came to his face and he drifted, riding the air currents, letting himself float and spiraling upwards gently into the upper atmosphere.
It was quiet up there, peaceful… until it wasn’t. Voices from the world below started running through his mind, afraid, calling for help, praying for deliverance, crying out for Superman. For the first time, he looked down at himself, noting the familiar symbol for hope on his chest and the skin tight blue Kryptonian fabric.
The revelation was enough to draw Zachary out of his slumber, expecting to find himself safely in his bed with Grayson laying against his chest as usual. What he didn’t factor for was that he’d actually be floating a couple of feet above the mattress.
“Oh.”
Grayson lay sleeping safe in his boyfriend's arms, completely unaware of the fact Zachary was floating. The morning light was cruel in not allowing him to continue to slumber but the young man knew he’d have to wake up eventually.
“Mmm, morning,” Gray hummed, eyes still closed and head buried on Zachary’s chest.
Slight panic started to take hold as Grayson stirred, he didn't want his boyfriend to fall, not that he'd land on anything but a soft bed. He was just grateful that Gray had the habit of using him as a pillow, tangling their legs together too, otherwise he would have fallen already. “Morning… It's still early, you don't need to be up just yet.”
Zee tried to will himself back down, but it seemed as if his body was determined to defy gravity a little while longer. How on earth was he going to explain this? Had the near lightning strike done something to him?
Having his ear so close to Zachary’s chest, Grayson could hear his boyfriend’s heart rate accelerate faster than normal. Gray frowned, wondering what had the slightly older man so worked up. Tilting his head up, Grayson opened his eyes and replied with a concerned tone. “Zee, are you okay? You seem a little…”
He trailed off, noting the top of the bed’s headboard was below the top of his boyfriend’s head. That wasn’t right. Normally he would see pillows when he would look at Zachary from this angle. Hooking his leg over Zachary’s hips and using his boyfriend’s chest to push himself up, Gray looked down from his floating perch.
“Er… floating?” he finished his earlier sentence as a question, straddling Zachary’s hips so he didn’t fall. Gray had no idea what to do. Could Zachary even get down? Was he stuck hovering forever? Not that Grayson minded, it was kind of cool but so weird. “Um… this is new.”
“I’m..” He didn’t lie if he could help it and it was obvious that he wasn’t fine, within the usual parameters for the status. Thankfully, Grayson shifting in his arms put a hold on his response and he adjusted his grip on his boyfriend, trying to keep him from falling as he changed position. “Yeah.. I don’t know why.”
The panic was still present, though Gray seemed oddly calm in comparison, and there was nothing but confusion in his blue eyes as he looked up at his boyfriend. His hands rest at Gray’s hips, keeping him balanced as they hovered there and he wondered how the heck he was going to get back down. “I dreamt I was flying, over the town, then right up into space. I was floating there… then I woke up, and I was floating here too.”
Maybe if he tried to stand on the bed he’d be able to get down? Certainly willing himself to land wasn’t working. How did Superman land usually, did the comics even explain that?
Grayson tried to remain as still as he could so as not to fall. He wasn’t afraid of falling, though, as he’d only land on the bed. But panic and weirdness aside, his boyfriend was flying, taking him with him, and that was kind of awesome.
Seeing the confusion in Zachary’s eyes, Grayson knew he couldn’t freak out. He needed to be calm and help figure the situation out. As much fun as it was floating there, they needed to get down. Gray slowly lowered his body against Zachary’s, moving his arms up and around his shoulders.
“You were dreaming of flying. Maybe visualizing a landing might help. Close your eyes,” the younger man spoke, calm and steady. “Imagine slowly drifting back into bed. Soft pillows under your head, me in your arms and the mattress dipping beneath our weight, supporting us. We’re safe and sound, back on Earth. Just us in your bed.”
Closing his eyes as he was told, Zachary let Gray's calming voice soothe him. It was easy to visualise the two of them entwined, safe in bed; he loved waking up like that in the mornings. He felt the mattress dip beneath their combined weight and let out a relieved sigh.
A smile came to his face as he opened his eyes and he stroked his hands up Gray's back, drawing him even closer. “Thank you.” Teeth worried his lower lip again and he got lost in his thoughts. He’d dreamt of being Superman, flight was just one of the hero’s powers. Would he have the others too?
“Love, there's something else.. I wasn't just flying in the dream. I was superpowered.” Zachary’s fingers trailed patterns across Grayson’s smooth skin as he voiced his thoughts, “do you suppose my close call with the lightning did something to me? Or that colored rain the other day?”
Gray’s eyes remain on Zachary’s face, watching the worry melt away at the sound of his voice. He felt a little swell of pride over having such an effect on his boyfriend but ultimately was glad he was able to help Zee relax enough to stop floating and land safely on the bed again. The surrealness of the situation still not lost on the younger man.
Blue eyes that Grayson loved so much opened and he smiled back, moving closer as Zachary drew him in. “You’re welcome. Anytime,” Gray murmured before kissing Zachary’s cheek. He saw the teeth worrying over Zachary’s bottom lip and cupped his boyfriend’s face, running his thumb along the lip line and hoping Zee would share what else was troubling his mind.
Drawing in a soft breath and releasing it as Zachary confirmed his suspicions. Flight wasn’t the only power his boyfriend now seemed to possess. “Honest answer. I don’t know.” Grayson confessed, having no clue what could have given Zachary these powers he spoke of. “Other people were in the rain and lightning too but I haven’t heard if anyone else has developed powers.” There was a little chuckle, hoping to ease the moment. “Maybe you really are Superman. You’ve got all the right looks.”
The brush of lips against his cheek and the feel of his boyfriend snuggling closer did more to ease his mind than even Gray probably realised, and he released his lip as Grayson's thumb brushed the curve of it. He really didn’t know how he’d gotten so lucky, having the younger man in his life. How many others would have been so calm when waking up mid air thanks to their partner hovering in his sleep?
“Plus my surname is Kent and I was raised on a farm.” Zachary smiled, shaking his head and letting out a bemused laugh. “I don’t know if I do have any of the other powers. It’s more of a what if? I had them in the dream, but that doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll have them now.”
The sound of paws thundering up the stairs signalled Olson’s arrival and soon enough the pup was up on the bed with them, commando crawling to squash up right alongside him. “I suppose we’ll find out eventually. I just hope I don’t hurt either of you the next time one manifests.”
At Zachary’s smile and little laugh, Grayson grinned, pleased that his boyfriend was more at ease. He understood that it could be quite a scary situation, but he didn’t feel afraid. Gray couldn’t explain it but he actually felt safer.
“Still, flight is pretty cool,” the younger man commented, remaining positive about the situation. “Imagine all the money we’ll save not having to book plane tickets next time we go on vacation together.” Gray kept the conversation light hearted, wanting Zachary to know that no matter what, he would always be by his side as long as Zachary was happy to have him there.
When Olson arrived, Grayson shifted to Zachary’s side, allowing room for the pup on the bed before reaching across and scratching Olson behind the ears in greeting. “You won’t, Zee. I trust you completely.”
He didn't quite feel like letting go of Gray just then, his warm, familiar weight against Zachary’s chest was comforting. So Zee held onto that security, stroking absently the planes of his lover's shoulder blades.
“No more queueing through security either.” He added with another quiet laugh. He hadn't thought of the benefits of flight before, but extra vacations with Grayson were definitely welcome. Maybe he worried too much? Perhaps he should just try and accept anything that came along and deal with it as calmly as Gray had? But then again what if he couldn't control the powers?
“You’re more sure about me than I am,” Zachary admitted softly, leaning in to press a gentle kiss to his boyfriend’s lips. “I love you.”
Zachary held him tight and Gray stayed close, hand over his boyfriend’s heart while his thumb rubbed small circles on his chest. The younger man tried to remain a grounding force, a solid presence that Zee could cling too.
“Bonus.” Gray agreed, liking the sound of a vacation with his boyfriend a lot. “We might be able to sneak off before the winter tourists start coming in. Naughty weekend somewhere warm or something.” He chuckled, ideas already brewing. Of course, he’d call off the whole vacation if Zachary wasn’t comfortable with it. He had completely faith that Zee could control his powers.
Grayson kissed back, eyes closing at the gentleness but fluttering open again when Zachary pulled back. “I love you too.” He bumped their noses together briefly then leant in for another kiss. “You and me. Always.”