The Day After You Saved The Multiverse is a Superman fanfiction written by Dark Mark. Chronologically, it is set after Hellsister Trilogy second story arc The Apokolips Agenda.
The Superboy of Earth-Prime comes home from the Darkseid wars and finds what life on his own Earth has in store for him.
It can be read in Dark Mark's DC fansite
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Tropes found in this fanfiction:
- Adaptational Nice Guy: Superboy-Prime behaves like the innocent, kind boy he was in his first appearance "DC Comics Presents #87" instead of the psychotic, self-centered, hypocritical monster which Infinite Crisis turned him into.
- Bad Boss: The unnamed Mafia Boss abuses physically his own minions just for saying something he does not like. In the first chapter, he slaps one subordinate for trying to find the silver lining in the fact that Superboy has nearly completely ruined one of their operations.
- Bullying a Dragon: The local crime syndicate has just gotten wind of the existence of a kid with Superboy powers operating in their territory. And instead of declaring "pack up and move out of town" time, the unnamed Boss gets his parents kidnapped to get him off their backs. One beatdown later, the crimelord decides to get off his back.
- But Now I Must Go: Superboy rescues his parents from The Boss, but he realizes that his presence is putting them and his girlfriend in danger, so he leaves a goodbye note and takes off for parts unknown.
- Comic Books Are Real: Clark tells his parents he now has Superboy-like powers. And he was dragged into a dimension where comic-book characters are real, and he fought alongside Superman, Batman, Supergirl, Wonder Woman, Flash and the like. And then he was dragged into still another conflict to stop Darkseid from enslaving the Multiverse. Jerome and Naomi Kent have trouble coping with the idea that they were almost turned into a fictional character's zombie slaves."Yes, Dad, busy. Busy saving five whole universes, six counting this one, from Darkseid." It sounded ludicrous as he said it. But there was nothing else he knew to say.
"Oh. Darkseid," said Naomi. "Another comic book character we didn't know we needed saving from, before two weeks ago." - Deconstructed Trope: All but inevitable, given Superboy-Prime's "Real life boy is given Superman powers" premise. To sum up: After spending one week fighting in other universes, Clark is totally exhausted, and wondering how his heroes can deal with it every day; Year Inside, Hour Outside is not conveniently in action, so everyone has noticed his disappearance; his desire to operate as a super-hero, regardless the risks, creates a rift between his loved parents and himself; his decision to keep a secret identity puts a strain on his relationship with his girlfriend, since he is not a good liar and Laurie quickly figures out he is keeping something from her; the first time he tries to pull off Superman's classic "sneak out quietly, save the day and return without anybody noticing your absence" maneuver, Laurie asks him why he is smelling like smoke; he uses his Super-Breath to put a fire off, but he also blows out the store windows and causes some property damage; a mob swiftly figures his secret identity out and kidnaps his parents. And so on.
- The Don: The Boss is the unnamed leader of the local crime syndicate. Superboy comes into conflict with him when he busts one of his extortion schemes.
- Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep": The head of the local crime syndicate is only referred to as "The Boss".
- Facepalm: Clark buries his head in his hands when his mother demands answers about his newly-developed powers, adding she will not put up with bad attitude as he is spilling the beans.
- Good Is Not Soft: As Superboy tracks down and angrily roughs up the members of the Mafia who have kidnapped his parents, he states they are gravely mistaken if they think they can push him around.Larson coughed. "We hold the..."
"Shut up!" Clark Kent bulled him up against the wall of the garage, not far from the fallen hoods. He held him there, Larson's feet not touching the floor, one hand firmly on Larson's throat, putting a bit of pressure on it.
"Get this straight. I am not the Superboy you read about in your comic books." - Gosh Dang It to Heck!: Clark's mother is very particular regarding swear swords.Naomi Kent: I don't want the least bit of attitude out of you when we do it, either, young man.
Clark Kent: Oh, cripes.
Naomi Kent: Clark!
Clark Kent: I said 'cripes', Mom. - I Have Your Wife: The Boss tries to coerce Superboy into working for him by kidnapping his parents. Though, Superboy makes the next counteroffer: the Boss gives him his parents back and keeps his mouth shut concerning his secret identity, and Superboy will not go after him. The Boss takes it up.
- Keeping Secrets Sucks: Clark does not dare to tell Laurie he has gained super-powers and he has been away for one week because he was helping other heroes save the Multiverse. He is not a good liar, though, and his girlfriend realizes he is keeping secrets from her, which puts strain on their relationship.
- Mistaken for Junkie: When Clark tells Laurie he cannot explain why he has been missing during one week, why it looks like he got in a fight, and why he is suddenly keeping secrets from her, his girlfriend bluntly asks if his problem has something to do with drugs.
- My Way or the Highway: Jerome and Naomi Kent want to know why his son has suddenly developed powers, and why he has been missing for one week. Before listening to his history, though, Jerome reassures Clark he will always be their son, with all it entails... including obeying his parents. If he does not like their rules, he can move out."That's exactly what we do want to know, son. But we want you to know something else. One, you are a member of this family, whether you are a... Superboy... or not. Two, your mother and I are still in a position of authority here, and if you don't like that, you can move out."
- Neck Lift: Superboy grabs and lifts one of the local Mafia thugs after their Boss has kidnapped his parents.
- No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: Clark parents are kidnapped because he put out a furniture store fire which had been caused by the mob to punish the owners' refusal to pay a protection racket.
- Parents as People: Jerome and Naomi Kent truly care for their son and want what's best for him, but they do not know how to handle the fact that he has mysteriously gained Superboy-like powers which he intends to use, even at the expense of his safety. They do not want him to get hurt, but he refuses to stop helping people, and they are afraid that he will cut their relationship if they push him too much or the wrong way.Naomi Kent: Why is he doing this, Jerome? Why can't we... can't we control the situation? For cripes' sake, we're the parents here. He is our foster son.
Jerome Kent:: Yes. But every son, every daughter, starts breaking the cord to the family sooner or later. It's our job to make sure he doesn't break it too soon, too completely, or in the wrong way. Nonetheless, Nay... I think our boy’s started to break it.
Naomi Kent: And there's nothing we can do about it?
Jerome Kent: Oh, there's certainly something we can do about it. We just have to do it in the right way, Nay. In the right way.
Naomi Kent: And what if he doesn't accept it?
Jerome Kent: Make your own answer, Naomi. Because I'm not sure I'm up to making one myself. - Superpower Lottery: Not only is Clark Kent the only superhuman in a lifelike universe but also has the powerset of the planet-tosser, faster-than-light Pre-Crisis Superboy.
- This Is Reality: Clark tries to operate as Superboy, and his secret identity is quickly discovered by the local crime mob. His mother tiredly points out secret identities cannot work in the real world.Jerome Kent: Son. Did you ever think of how this was going to impact your life? Did you ever think of what it was going to do to your family?
Superboy: I... well... I guess, maybe... no. I just thought—"
Jerome Kent: You thought you'd be Superboy, just like in the comics. You thought you'd just change clothes in a phone book, fly off, bounce a few bullets off your chest, bring in a few bad guys, change back, nobody would see, and that'd be it. Is that what you thought, son?
Superboy: ...
Naomi Kent: That only works in the comic books, Clark. In the real world, there are any number of ways to determine a person's identity. - With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility: When his parents try to talk him out of operating as a superhero, Clark insists that he has now powers and he must use them to help people, no matter what.
- You Can't Go Home Again: Clark returns home after helping save the Multiverse, but his newly-gained powers are creating a rift between him and both his parents and his girlfriend, and his attempts to play hero are placing them at risk, so he decides to skip town.
