The atmosphere in the room was light. Jonathan and Martha were chatting enthusiastically with Diana, who was sharing stories about Themyscira. Clark, sitting quietly, knew he had to take advantage of this moment of levity to bring up a difficult conversation.
"Mom, Dad, I need to talk to you about something important."
Jonathan turned to his son, raising an eyebrow. "Sure, Clark. What's going on?"
Clark took a deep breath, gathering his courage. "I've made a decision. I think it's time for me to leave the farm. I want to move out."
Martha's smile instantly disappeared, and Jonathan frowned. The silence that followed seemed to hang heavily in the air. Martha was the first to react, her voice filled with concern.
"Clark, you just came back. We spent weeks without any news from you, not knowing if you were okay or if you'd come home. And now you're talking about leaving again?"
Jonathan, standing beside her, looked at his son with a mix of surprise and displeasure. He finally spoke, his voice deeper and more direct. "Clark, do you even realize what you're saying? You're only 16. You're still in high school. This isn't a decision you can make so easily."
Clark stood up slowly, putting his hands in his pockets as he looked directly at Jonathan and Martha.
"Dad, Mom," he began, his voice calm but tense, "I understand why you're worried. You've raised me to be responsible, to understand the consequences of my choices. But you need to understand something very important. I'm not like other teenagers. I never have been."
Jonathan furrowed his brow, crossing his arms, while Martha looked at Clark with concerned eyes. "What do you mean by that, Clark?" Jonathan asked cautiously.
Clark took a deep breath, glancing at Diana before continuing. "I've never been human. You know that. You found me in that field when I was just a baby, arriving from another planet. Since then, you've done everything possible to raise me as a normal kid. But the truth is, I'm not normal, and I never will be."
The silence in the room was almost palpable. Martha covered her mouth, visibly shaken, while Jonathan seemed to be processing what Clark was saying. Diana remained silent, observing without intervening.
Clark stepped forward, his tone growing firmer. "I can do things no one else can. I've done things normal people never would. That's why I need to make my own decisions now. I'm not asking for permission. I'm informing you."
Martha finally broke the silence, her voice trembling. "Clark, we know you're special. We've always known. But that doesn't mean you can just throw away everything we've built together. It doesn't mean you can distance yourself from us like this."
Clark looked at her, his expression softening for a moment. "Mom, I'm not distancing myself from you. I'll always love you, and this will always be my home. But I need to move forward. I can't hide on the farm forever. Diana knows who I am, and she understands the responsibility I carry. I'm not an ordinary kid. And I never will be."
Jonathan stepped forward, pointing at Diana. "She knows? How could you just tell something like that to a stranger? You've put our family at risk, Clark!"
Clark remained calm, though the intensity of the situation was evident in his expression. "Diana isn't a stranger. She's like me — someone who understands what it means to be different, to be more than what's expected of you. I trust her, and you can trust her too."
"Martha, Jonathan, I know Clark's decision is hard to accept, but I'd like to share something that might help you understand what he's going through," Diana began, her voice serene and respectful as the Kents listened intently.
"When I decided to leave Themyscira, my home, I faced something very similar. My mother, Hippolyta, is the queen of the Amazons, and she raised me to be a warrior but also to live in isolation. She always told me the world of men was corrupt, dangerous, and undeserving of our help. I grew up hearing that, but in my heart, I always knew I was destined for something greater."
Diana paused, her gaze momentarily distant, as if reliving those events. Martha and Jonathan remained silent, absorbing every word.
"When war in the world of men reached our shores, I knew I couldn't ignore it. I decided I had to act. My mother tried to stop me. She said I was too young, that I didn't understand the dangers and responsibilities. But the truth is, I understood, perhaps more than she imagined."
Diana lifted her gaze, meeting Martha and Jonathan's eyes. "I left, despite her orders. I took the sword, the shield, and the lasso of truth. And as I crossed the barrier, she told me something that still echoes in my mind: 'If you leave, you can never return.'"
Martha and Jonathan exchanged a loaded look of concern while Diana shared her story. But certain elements — swords, shields, and wars — felt distant and abstract to them.
"Diana, that might be too much for them right now," Clark interjected, turning to his parents. "Mom, Dad, what Diana is trying to say is that she understands what I'm going through. She knows what it's like to leave something important behind to fulfill a greater purpose. You don't need to worry. You can trust me and her."
Martha sighed deeply, her eyes fixed on Diana with a mix of compassion and melancholy.
"Diana, it must have been painful to hear something so final from your mother. I can't imagine saying that to Clark. But I also know that as mothers, we want to protect our children at any cost, to keep them close. And sometimes, that means facing our own pain and letting them go."
Jonathan placed a supportive hand on Martha's shoulder before addressing Clark.
"Son, you are and always will be part of this family. We respect your decision because we trust you. But remember, the door will always be open for you, no matter what happens. Always."
Clark nodded, visibly moved by his parents' words. He knew how much they were struggling to accept his choice. Stepping closer to Martha, he held her hands firmly.
"Thank you, Mom. Thank you, Dad. You don't know how much this means to me. I promise that everything you've taught me will be honored in every step I take."
Diana, watching the scene, smiled serenely, impressed by the depth of the familial bond she was witnessing. Approaching them, she placed her hand over Martha's.
"Mrs. Kent, I want you to know I'll do everything I can to protect Clark and ensure he never forgets where his true home is."
Martha squeezed Diana's hand firmly, a soft and sincere smile curving her lips. "Thank you, Diana. You seem like someone we can trust. I hope that while you're with Clark, you'll also feel like part of this family."
Jonathan gave Clark a light pat on the back, trying to ease the tension in the air.
"Clark, do you already have a place in mind? Where exactly are you planning to go once you leave?"
Clark hesitated for a brief moment, carefully choosing his words before responding.
"Yes, Dad. I've thought about it. There's a house on the outskirts of Smallville that's perfect for me. It's not a mansion, but it's spacious enough and isolated, which is ideal considering who I am."
Jonathan raised an eyebrow, surprised by how well-thought-out the plan was. "Sounds like you've got everything planned. How are you going to get this house? Have you talked to the owner?"
Clark averted his gaze for a moment, keeping his expression neutral. "I have my ways, Dad. Don't worry. Everything will be handled smoothly."
Martha sighed deeply, crossing her arms as she looked at her son. "So, you've thought through everything. From the location to how you're going to get it. Why didn't you tell us sooner?"
Clark shrugged slightly, trying to calm his mother's worries. "I wanted to make sure I was making the right decision before telling you. But now that I've decided, everything will fall into place."
Diana, who had remained silent, observed the exchange closely. There was something in Martha's tone that reminded her of her own mother, Hippolyta. The contrast, however, was clear. While Hippolyta was often rigid, placing the duties of the Amazons above emotions, Martha allowed herself to express her vulnerability, openly showing how much she cared for Clark.
"It's curious," Diana said, breaking the silence, "to see how mothers can be so different. My mother, Queen Hippolyta, would never let me leave without a fight. She believed the world of men was dangerous and undeserving. But you, Mrs. Kent, choose to trust Clark, even knowing the risks. It's admirable."
Martha gave a faint smile, though her eyes still showed concern. "Diana, I wouldn't say it's easy. In fact, it's one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. But Clark isn't just our son. He's someone destined for greater things, and I know I can't stop him from following his path."
The conversation continued for some time, filled with stories, laughter, and a sense of mutual acceptance. However, as everyone settled down, Clark knew that despite his parents' support, part of his journey would have to remain a secret. The mental manipulation he planned to use to acquire the house was something he would never share, not even with Diana.
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