THE SUN CASTS OVER the L/N farm as Y/N sped through a road of articles; bold letters proclaimed, "Records Galore! Record-breaking teen becomes the fastest man alive." Another headline swiftly followed with, "Small kid lifts car off injured father."

Y/N sighed, running his hand through his hair as he continued scrolling. He's been searching for the early minutes that he rarely gets when he does his morning routine.

"Y/N L/N, you're going to be late for the bus!" Maria's voice echoed from downstairs, filled with the familiar tone of morning urgency.

"Coming, Mom!" Y/N shouted back, his eyes lingering on the screen for a moment longer before he darted out of his room.

It was an average weekday morning in the L/N household, bustling with the comfortable chaos of daily life. Y/N bounded into the kitchen, his movements quick and efficient. He swung open the refrigerator door, revealing an assortment of beverages—Pepsi, Mountain Dew, and a jug of milk.  He grabbed the milk and drank directly from the bottle.

"Uh-uh. No," Maria chided, gently taking the milk from him.

"It tastes better."

"Where are your manners?"

"On a farm?" Y/N joked, as Maria shook her head, her smile widening. The front door creaked open, adding another layer to the morning's hustle.

"On a farm," Y/N joked, Maria shaking her head as the front door creaked open. Joseph L/N stepped in, dressed in a flannel shirt and jacket. He shrugged off the jacket and hung it on the nearby coat rack.

"Hey sleepyhead, how was last night," Joseph smiled at Y/N, who placed his backpack down and opened its zipper.

Y/N shrugged, "The usual, just finished my homework before I called off the night."

Joseph nods as Maria moves about the kitchen, grabbing out a mug and bringing it to her husband. "Oh, and don't forget I have class tonight, so you two are on your own. And don't order pizza. There's plenty of food in the fridge."

Both the boys nodded before Joseph took a swig from the milk bottle, which Y/N chuckled at the sight and settled at the table with a paper format in his hand.

"Hey, what you got there, Son?" Joseph asked, noticing the paper.

Y/N handed it towards his father, his eyes hopeful, "Permission slip. It's for the football team. A couple of spots opened up and they're having tryouts this afternoon."

Joseph took the slip and glanced at it, taking a deep sigh of contemplation as his eyes met Y/N's, "Son.."

"Come on, Dad," Y/N pleaded, "You played football in high school?"

"That was different."

"Why?"

"You know why," Joseph repeated, his tone gentle but firm.

Y/N's shoulders slumped. "I can run half at speed, I won't hit anybody!"

"A lot of things can happen in the heat of the game, Son."

"Most new guys hardly even play. Chances are I'll ride the bench half the season," Y/N argued. Joseph smacked his lips, considering as his son continued, "I can be careful."

To be honest, Y/N wasn't really interested in football but rather it was something that his friend gestured him to participate in and he figured he could do something in High School other than just classes and then home 24/7.

And maybe to impress a certain girl in school.

After a moment of silence, Joseph finally spoke, "I know that you can be careful, but what if there's an accident?" Joseph said, his tone placating.

Y/N fell silent, a sense of frustration became evident in his eyes. "Fine." He stood abruptly and grabbed his backpack before Joseph reached out and grabbed Y/N by the arm gently.

"Look, Y/N, I know this has got to be really hard for you, but you just need to wait until we figure something out. I promise, things will change."

"That's what you said, last year...."

"Well..." Joseph faltered, "Just hang in there, Y/N. Please."

"I'm tired of hanging in there." Y/N nearly snapped, "All I want to do is finally live a life without being some outcast."

He picked up his things and headed for the door. Joseph watched him go, a sigh escaping his lips.

Maria placed a gentle hand on Joseph's shoulder. "Maybe we can find a way for him to participate safely. Let's not shut the door completely."

Joseph glanced at Maria, "Maybe...I just don't want them to take him away."

"And if we keep doing this, we'll end up pushing him away." Maria replied, "He wants to make friends and fit in."

"I know that," Joseph's voice followed. "But he's not like those other kids."

"He doesn't know that..."

"And he never will," Joseph lowery declared, "...at least not yet."

Y/N walked outside only to see the school bus pull away from the stop sign at the end of the driveway.

"Great," he muttered.

Not being in the football team was one thing but missing out the bus was becoming a bad habit for him, one that usually led to a brisk jog to school. But he couldn't otherwise Mr. Wilson would have marked him tardy after all the late excuses in the past.

Glancing around to make sure no one was watching, Y/N took off through the cornfield that bordered the farm.

"Woooooohooooooo!!!"

• • •

A COACH'S WHISTLE pierced through the air over Midtown High over the football field. Y/N stood by the bench watching the fellow students' tryouts for the newly football team this year while his friend continued rambling,

"You listening Y/N?" Jenny asked, her face puzzled as he remained distant watching the team and cheerleaders, "Hellooo earth to Y/N?"

Y/N blinked a few times before he turned to her, rubbing his tired eyes as he sighed. "Oh uh...yeah. Sorry, err...just a long day."

Jenny rolled her eyes but smiled. "You've been saying that a lot lately."

"You counted?"

"Hundreds," Jenny chuckled, snapping another picture from her camera, "Anyway, as I was saying, I've been looking into some weird stuff happening around town. You know, like that strange blackout last week?"

"I don't really pay much attention to the news, no." Y/N admits, his gaze drifting back to the field.

"Well, I've snuck through and...it wasn't just a power surge. Apparently, there was some green glow then everything went out. Not to mention, there's this thing going on with Pym Technologies—some little birdies sang that they're working on something big that could change everything."

"Jenny..." Y/N began but Jenny continued,

"Ang get this, I heard rumors there's been some kind of artifact found in an excavation site nearby."

"There's always something in some evacuation site," Y/N said. "Besides, it's not like we'll ever know."

"Oh, but trust me. I'll know. Just you watch," Jenny smugly smirked.

Y/N rolled his eyes and sighed, "Jenny. You're supposed to just, I don't know, take pictures around the school. Not go into these...little things."

"Little?" Jenny gave him an exasperated look. "This is more than a little. Things are happening in Smallville and everyone needs to know."

"There are actual news reporters, you know that right?"

"And they like to be hush-hush about it and talk about the weather. I'm talking about things that could actually be happening right now."

Y/N slowly nodded again, "Well...good luck, I guess? I'd love to join the Mystery Machine but...I got other things to do."

Jenny scoffed, "Sure you do, farm boy."

Y/N shrugged as she continued taking pictures around the field. His thoughts remained elsewhere as he looked ahead where the cheerleaders were. At a particular girl. Jenny frowned, noticing his distracted state once more.

"Hey, are you sure you're, okay? You've been kinda off lately. Is it stuff back at home?" Jenny asked, her tone softening with concern.

Y/N sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Just...rough morning."

"You know you could just tell the coach that you're not well. You've been down all day, are you sure you're—"

"I'm alright, okay!" Y/N nearly raised his voice before sighing, "I'll...manage. Today's just been tiring, and I need to just get through today."

Jenny was silent for a moment. She let out a defeated sigh, knowing that he won't say what's wrong.

"I don't get it though," Jenny said, turning to him.

"What is?" Y/N asked.

"You were all confident about trying out yesterday but then you said you weren't sure and didn't."

Y/N sighed. "It's complicated."

"You always say that too. At this point, I'm seeing some kind of pattern."

"It just is."

The tryouts continued, the coach's whistle punctuating the air every few minutes. Y/N watched as one of the boys, a particularly fast runner, made a touchdown. He couldn't help but feel a pang of envy — feeling like he could be out there; proud and cheered.

As his gaze wandered, it landed on Sarah Langford, on the frontlines of the cheerleaders. She was leading the team, cheering on the team as they played. Y/N had harbored quiet affections for her since he was nine. They met once when they once helped her family in their farm that was nearby. She was always kind-hearted and sweet while he was silent and anxious.

Recalling that time made him frown, wishing he said more than just small words — to talk to her, become friends, maybe even more. How much he wished things were so much different back then.

"You know, if you keep staring, people might start to talk." Jenny chimed in.

Y/N snapped out of his reverie. "I wasn't staring."

"Sure, you weren't," Jenny teased, nudging him with her elbow. "Why don't you just go talk to her?"

"Yeah, right. Like she'd want to talk to me now," Y/N muttered.

Jenny raised an eyebrow. "Well, you can't keep staring at her like a weirdo from the outer rim."

Y/N rolled his eyes, "I'm not sure I'm even allowed to date. I got.... too many things."

"You're worried about what your dad might think?" Jenny asked him. He didn't even get a chance to respond as she continued, "Come on, farm boy, you can't just sulk and be distant around like in Elementary. Meet some people. Go out. Find your own man." She lightly tapped him on the shoulder.

Y/N laughed, feeling a bit lighter. "...I'll think about it."

"Sure, sure," Jenny shrugs, "Just don't wait too long before someone shoots their shot."

"Jenny!"

She shrugs, "Just saying."

Before Y/N could respond, the whistle blew once again. Everyone's attention dashed towards the coach as he rallied his team.

"Alright, everyone, huddle up! Let's get a move on!"

The football players, drenched in sweat and breathing heavily, jogged off the field, led by their coach. A group of cheerleaders, equally spirited, ran off the field as well. The players started turning in their equipment for Y/N to wipe them down.

"Alright then, I'll leave you to it." Jenny said as she started to walk away. "I'll catch you later, Y/N. Don't be a stranger!"

Y/N chuckled, "Yeah, yeah. See you around, Jen."

They both waved as she skimmed away from the field, leaving Y/N to continue working on the equipment. Near the sports field, Sarah fussed with her pom-poms, having fallen behind the others. Y/N noticed and crossed over to her once he was finished.

"Hey Sarah? Don't bother with these, huh?" Y/N said, grabbing the pom-poms. "I'll take them in with the other equipment."

"Oh, you don't have to, Y/N." Sarah shook her head thoughtfully.

"No really, I got this. Don't want you to be bored after practice."

Sarah giggled, "Thanks, Y/N"

Y/N nearly blushed, "No problem. Go."

Sarah was about to make her way to her bag when she turned out to look at the scrawny teen, "Hey Y/N! A bunch of us were going up to the bowling alley at 7. Playing some records as well. Wanna come?"

Y/N's face lit up with a smile. "Uh, sure. That sounds like a lot of fun."

Y/N's face lit up with a smile. "I'd like that—" he pauses for a moment before shaking his head, "Sorry...actually I can't. I gotta get back home before my mom and dad gets worried."

"I'm sure that'll be alright with them," Sarah looked at him with pleaded eyes.

"I'm sorry...I can't."

Sarah frowned, "Oh...well..that's alright."

"I'm not sure he'd make it to his boyfriend either," the smug grin of Carl Creel appears behind, wrapping an arm around Sarah's shoulder. "Trying to make moves on my girl, L/N."

"What? No. No!" Y/N shakes his head, "That's not what—"

"Good," Carl took a few steps in front of Y/N. "Because I'd hate to make you this year's scarecrow."

"Carl!" Sarah scolded Carl brushed off with a chuckle.

"Relax, I'm only joking," Carl glanced back at Y/N, almost threateningly. "Right, buddy?"

Y/N nods, almost annoyed, "Yeah...right..."

Carl grinned, "Good, now I think you got a lot of work to do."

Y/N glanced around and saw that the equipment that Y/N had neatly piled on the bench was now strewn all over the ground. Water buckets overturned and helmets scattered which made Y/N's facepalm.

"Oh..." Y/N exasperated.

Sarah sighed, "Carl..."

"Hey come on, Sarah!" a fellow cheerleader called out from the distance. Everyone sat into the car, waiting on both Sarah and Carl.

"Get to chop chop, L/N," Carl laughed as he grabbed Sarah and pulled her towards the open convertible. "Come on, let's go!"

Sarah looked back at Y/N, her expression apologetic. "Bye, Y/N."

"Bye," Y/N murmured, formed to watch as they walked over to the car.

After they were gone, leaving the teen to himself, Y/N's frustration boiled over as he shoved the pom-poms aside and turned away as the convertible roared off with the cheerleaders and Carl's friend waving bye to him before they disappeared.

Y/N tucked his hands in his pocket, his face downcast with another dose of disappointment and frustration. He really wanted to join with Luke today, thinking that perhaps he could impress the team enough that Creel would get off his back and maybe impress Sarah enough that she'd be more interested to date him than some quarterback.

'Oh who am I kidding...' Y/N exhaled a deep breath. In a fit of anger, he kicked the nearby football– only it didn't fall back down, like any normal person, but rather it soared through the air like a rocket and disappeared into the distance.

"What the..." Y/N's jaw opened in shock, glancing at his foot then out into the sky where a shiny twinkle in the daylight appeared in his vision.

Y/N stopped by the sidewalk near the Loeb Bridge, gazing across the lake. There was one point in his life where right near the lake was where his dad once took him fishing. A calming retreat that Maria suggested after an argument where he couldn't participate in a play with Sarah, a memory that he still held a quiet disappointment over.

Looking across the water's surface and the late afternoon sun, Y/N couldn't help but constantly think about the mess on the field. Usually he'd run back home, feeling the breeze and wind air, where'd he'd feel alive and like he was top of the world.

But this time was different, with the thoughts of inadequacy clinging onto him as the words of both his dad and Creel sunk into his ears.

And more than that but a piercing– wait– a piercing sound? Y/N groaned and clutched his ears, as something sharp and overwhelming cut through his thoughts. 

It grew louder, more insistent, until he realized it was the sound of screeching tires. He turned just in time to see a car swerving out of control, barreling straight towards him. The impact sent both Y/N and the car hurtling over the edge of the Loeb Bridge, plunging into the cold waters of the Elbow River below.

Y/N's eyes opened through the murky water, surprisingly clear and sharp. Confusion threatened to take hold but he forced it down to instead focus on the car that slowly descended below the river.

With quick thoughts and no hesitation, he propelled himself towards the car close enough to see that there were rather two figures laid barely conscious—a man slumped over the steering wheel and, near the window, a young brunette girl, whose face was clear pale.

Y/N gripped the car's roof and pulled it upwards. The metal groaned under the strain, then yielded with a wrenching twist. He reached out to grab the girl first, who was limp and her face nearly pale.

Breaking the surface, Y/N gasped for air, dragging the girl to the riverbank. He laid her down gently, her chest rising and falling in shallow breaths.

"You okay?" Y/N asked her as she coughed, water sputtering from her mouth as she regained consciousness.

She coughed, water sputtering from her mouth as she regained consciousness, her eyes fluttering open.

"Y-yeah," she nodded, Y/N could hear her heart racing as her eyes fluttered, "What about my dad?"

"Stay here, okay?" Y/N told her. She nodded weakly before watching him with wide eyes as he turned and plunged back into the water.

Finding the older man still trapped, Y/N worked quickly, his fingers fumbling with the seat belt and door handle. The man's body slumped forward, unconscious but alive barely.

Y/N managed to free the man and pull him to the surface, panting heavily as he laid the man on the riverbank next to the girl.

"Dad? Dad!" the girl rushed over and knelt before the older man.

Y/N began chest compressions, nothing worked. He told the girl to stand back before he performed rescue breaths until finally the man coughed and spluttered, water from his lips.

"Dad," The girl cried in relief, "are you okay?"

"Yeah. Yeah I think so...", the man's eyes flickered open before locking onto Y/N with disbelief and confusion, "I thought I hit you."

Y/N panted, shaking his head, "If you did....and trust me...if you did..." he couldn't finish it but they got the message clear. The girl looked at Y/N with gratitude while her father looked dazed — each with their own wonder on what just happened.

• • •

HOURS PASSED AS emergency responders arrived. Y/N stayed by the man and his daughter, each with towels around their shoulders. An hour later, the scene was swarmed with emergency responders and curious onlookers when Joseph arrived.

"Y/N!" Joseph yelled, rushing up and embracing him in relief. "Thank every sun in the universe, you okay?"

"Yeah," Y/N nodded sternly.

Joseph's eyes narrowed towards an officer. "What happened here? Who was the maniac that was driving that car?"

"That would be me," the man approached, raising a hand. "Hank Pym."

Joseph glanced at the man, then at his daughter. Instead of shaking his hand, however, he removed his coat and wrapped it around his son.

"Joseph L/N. This is my son."

"Your boy saved my daughter," Hank said. "Saved both of us, but my daughter came first. Thank you."

Y/N gave a modest nod, feeling the weight of the event sink in as the car was lifted from the river, revealing its crumpled state. It's completely mangled but the hood has clearly been torn off. The sight of the damaged vehicle made even Joseph tense up.

"Come on, son, let's go," Joseph said, steering Y/N away from the scene.

"If there's anything I can do," Hank began, "money, a favor, or–"

"How about you drive slower, hmm?" Joseph interrupted, his voice firm.

Hank watched them leave, exhaling as he glanced back at the damaged car.

As Joseph and Y/N arrived home, tension crackled in the air like static. Joseph's jaw was set, his steps heavy. He slammed the front door behind him, causing Maria to look up from the kitchen.

"I can't believe that man," Joseph ranted, "It's bad enough that he drove recklessly enough to kill someone but now he thinks paying will solve that he nearly made my boy risk his life?!" he shook his head as he exhaled, "Rich people. Always thinks they can do whatever they want and get away with it."

"Dad, it was an accident."

"Like hell it is? These things don't just happen by coincidence," Joseph sighed, "You shouldn't have risked your life like that."

"What was I supposed to do? Let them die?"

"No, god no! It's just..." Joseph sighed, rubbing his forehead before he spoke again, "You did the right thing, son. It just irks me that because of that he feels like he owes us something. Like some charity."

Y/N shrugged, "He's probably just being grateful."

"Grateful? They think they can buy gratitude."

"This isn't about Hank Pym, is it?"

"It's about people like him always getting away with things," Joseph stated as he circled around the room, "You remember what happened to the Walters? You and their daughter used to play out in the backyard. Or how about the Toomes family? That Stark fellow promised to cut them in on a deal, sent them flashy gifts and everything. Only to eventually have them evicted."

Y/N looked at him belligerently, "So what? One known genius turned out to be some kind of a douche, so all of them are?"

"Well Hank Pym does have a record of being named, scientist supreme. Like Stark's ego and that Tarlton guy."

"You don't understand, son," Joseph sighed, "People like Pym have a history of thinking they're above everyone else."

"That's crazy."

"It's experience. There's a difference."

"Well it looks to me, you're making it sound like everyone out on the planet is some kind of supervillain," Y/N raised his arms, "and I don't know why!

Joseph paused, realizing that this is no longer about Pym. He took a sigh and rubbed his forehead. "You don't understand, Y/N."

"What don't I understand, then?" Y/N demanded, "Tell me?"

"Enough, both of you." Maria chimed in.

Joseph paused before turning away, trying to calm himself. Y/N scoffed, grabbing his bag as he headed back upstairs. Joseph sighed before he spoke again, stopping Y/N from going any further.

"I know that you're upset about school and everything. But you have to understand that uh..." Joseph stammered, trying to fight the right word, "...normal. This is just how the world usually works."

Y/N dropped his bag on the stairs as he turned back to face his father, "Normal? You think all of this is normal?"

Y/N grabbed a nearby metal rod, "How about this? Is this normal?!" Y/N bent it effortlessly with his bare hands, the metal screeching under the pressure.

"I didn't dive in after that man's car! It hit me at full speed! Does that sound normal to you?!" Y/N shouted in frustration, "First taking me out of clubs, then not letting me join theater when I was a kid, and now not even joining a football club! Now this??"

Joseph simply looked at him with upset as Y/N's face contorted in anguish.

"I'd give anything to be normal!"

Y/N stomped off past Joseph and up the loft stairs. Joseph sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. Maria stepped forward, placing a hand on Joseph's shoulder.

"Perhaps...it's time to tell him." she murmured to him.

Joseph looked at her then back at his son's direction and sighed.

Y/N sat in his room next to the telescope, lost in his thoughts. He barely noticed when Joseph climbed the stairs and approached him. Joseph pulled something wrapped in cloth out of his jacket pocket, then picked up a small clock from a nearby table, setting it down gently.

"It's time, son," Joseph spoke, his voice calm but serious.

Y/N turned from his telescope, his expression dejected as his face laid confused. "Time for what?"

"The truth." Joseph sat down on his bed, exhaling a deep breath, "I want you to take a look at something."

He carefully unwrapped the cloth, revealing an object that looked like a large diskette with strange symbols etched into its surface.

Y/N's eyes darted, he looked up to his dad, eyebrow raised. "What is that?"

"I don't know," Joseph responded, "But I think it's from your parents." He looked him straight in the eye as he passed the object to Y/N, "Your real parents."

He passed the object to Y/N, who examined it, his eyes stared with awe and confusion.

"What does it say?" Y/N asked.

Joseph shrugged then looked up, "Can't tell, I tried to decipher it for years, but it's not written in any language known to man."

Y/N's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What do you mean?"

"Your real parents weren't exactly from around here." Joseph cast a significant gaze toward the window.

"What are you trying to tell me, Dad? Y/N asked confusingly. 

Then he glanced at where his dad was looking at through the window, out in the sky in the sunset. Y/N immediately shook his head.

"No."

Joseph met his eyes steadily. "Yes."

"That's crazy!"

"I know it is," Joseph agreed, letting out a small laugh before keeping himself steady, "But it's the truth."

"So what? You're trying to say that I'm from another planet?" Joseph laid silent and Y/N's incredulous laughter filled the room. "And I suppose you stashed my spaceship in the attic?"

"Actually," Joseph said, his voice unwavering, "it's hidden underneath the storm cellar."

Y/N furrowed his eyebrows, "The storm cellar?"

Joseph sat up, "Come on. I'll show you."

Joseph led Y/N downstairs and out to the back of the house. They walked across the yard to the storm cellar. Joseph pulled open the heavy doors and descended the stairs, with Y/N following closely behind. The cellar was dimly lit, with the scent of earth and old wood hanging in the air.

At the far end of the cellar, behind a stack of old crates, Joseph stopped and knelt down. He cleared away some dirt and debris, revealing a hidden latch in the floor. With a grunt, he pulled it open to reveal a concealed compartment. Inside lay the very ship that he arrived on earth from. Y/N's eyes widened, many reactions came at once as he laughed in denial,

"No. That's..." Y/N laughed, thinking it was all some kind of dream or a joke. "This has to be a prank. This can't be real."

Joseph shook his head, "No, son. This isn't real."

Y/N paced around the room, running his hands through his hair. "This doesn't make any sense. How could I be....you're saying I'm some kind of freak? That I'm a–"

"Y/N Andre L/N! Don't you ever say those words again!" Joseph yelled. He took steps forward and places his hands on his shoulder.

"You're not a freak. You're my son—"

"But I'm not! Am I!" Y/N snapped back, "I grew up here! In this house, on this farm! And you're telling me that I'm not even human?!"

Joseph stood up calmly, "I know it's a lot to take in, but it's the truth."

Y/N stopped pacing and looked at his father, tears welling up in his eyes. "So, all this time, you knew I was different? Is that why you didn't let me join clubs or play sports?"

"We wanted to protect you."

"Protect me from what?! The truth?" Y/N shouted, his voice breaking.

"No son, look it's just–" Joseph stopped himself. He reached out and put a hand on his son's shoulder. "I understand it's a lot to take in. But we just wanted to keep you safe until we could figure out how to help you control them."

Y/N pulled away, shaking his head as he wiped his face.

"I...I need some space."

"Y/N–"

"No!" Y/N backed away. He looked at Joseph with anger in his eyes. "You should've told me!"

In a blur of motion, Y/N super sped away from Joseph and the ship, his emotions a whirlwind.

"Y/N. Y/N!" Joseph called after him, but his calls fell on deaf ears. Only response was the echo of his own voice in the empty cellar.

• • •

Y/N RAN INTO the woods that bordered the fields, his thoughts swirling as he stumbled through the rows of tall stalks. He finally stopped when he found himself in a clearing, with a few bales of hay scattered about. The sun had almost completely set, casting a shadow over the field.

He sat down near a log, his head in his hands as he tried to make sense of everything. His life was a lie, his entire world was a lie. Y/N looked at his hand, his eyes tracing the lines and contours of his palm. Was he even human? If not, what was he?

As he questioned himself, refusing to believe any of this was real. He then heard faint music drifting through the trees. The melody was loud yet a little soothing which made him curious enough to see what was happening from afar.

He followed the sound, weaving through the underbush until he reached a small clearing by a river. There, on a large rock, sat a girl. The source of the music was a small portable speaker next to her. She was sketching in a worn notebook, her brow furrowed in concentration as she added delicate lines to her drawing, lost in her own world.

Y/N stood still, watching her for a moment. She seemed completely lost in the music and her drawing, her body swaying gently. As he took a moment to observe, he realized with a start that this was the same girl from the bridge earlier that day. The one whose father he saved.

Apart of him, questioned what brought her here and not in some manor like his dad would assume. He debated whether or not he should approach her. She looked so genuine back at the bridge and was arguably serene here. But on the other hand, maybe he was wrong besides he wasn't the best talking to people. Let alone girls who weren't Jenny.

The girl eventually sat her notebook down and sat it near the music box. She stood up, and to his surprise, began to undress. Y/N felt a rush of embarrassment and looked away, about to look away when he sees her dive into the water below, leaving her clothes neatly folded on the rock.

Y/N remained silent, his jaw opened in as his heart pounding. He watched the spot where she entered the water, expecting her to resurface. Seconds ticked by, then a minute.

"Hello..." he muttered.

 A frown creased his brow as the water settled back into calmness, the ripples from her dive fading away.

"Hello!" he called out, there was no response. The water remained undisturbed, and Y/N began to panic. "Hey!"

He sped to the edge of the rock, peering into the water below. The clear surface offered no sign of her. His mind raced, and fear clawed at his chest. He called out to her once more, his voice breaking with worry.

Just as he was about to take off his coat and dive in after her, a voice called out from behind.

"Strange to hear you shout like that."

He turned to see the girl emerged from the water, a towel wrapped around her shoulders. He couldn't tell if she looked upset or amused.

Y/N blinked, caught off guard. "Yeah."

"Do you always try to catch people when they fall?"

Y/N hesitated then shook his head, "Not really. I just didn't see you come up. Thought maybe... something happened."

She smiled, a small, amused grin that softened her features. "Well, I'm fine, at least this time around. Thanks for the concern, though."

Y/N nodded and let out a deep sigh. Hope wrapped the towel more securely around herself and sat down on the rock, gesturing for him to join her.

"Y/N right?"

Y/N eyes furrowed, "Yeah. How did you..."

She shrugged, "Your dad called your name out, and I have some great sense photographic memory."

Y/N gave a shy chuckle. "And you are?"

"Hope."

 "Well, it meant a lot to us. My dad wouldn't stop talking about it."

Y/N hesitated before moving to sit on the edge of the rock, careful to keep a respectful distance.

"Thanks, by the way," she told him. "For what you did out there in the bridge. Not many people would dive after a speeding car that almost hit them."

"I've been meaning to ask; what happened back there? It didn't look like your dad was drunk or not looking straight."

Hope shrugged again; her brow furrowed deep into thought. She probably had similar thoughts about it. She then sighed and leaned back.

"I don't know. I'd assume he was tired, but he said that he was fine all the way back from the local farmers' association."

"So that's what brought you here to Smallville." Hope nodded. Y/N wanted to ask more but pushed any further questions on the topic later. 

"Took some notes though."

Hope handed him the notebook. Y/N flipped it open, expecting to see sketches or drawings. Instead, he found pages filled with detailed notes, diagrams, and ideas. He scanned a few pages, his curiosity growing.

"T-that's...." Y/N blinked, taken off-guard once more. He could downright say he was impressed and a little curious at the notion.

Hope chuckled with a grin, "What? You thought they were sketches?"

"Kinda." He admits, "But this is good. You got plans for new agricultural tech?"

Hope shakes her head, "Not really. No. My dad doesn't really want me doing all this. He would've made me stay back at home had there been anyone to 'watch me'."

Y/N raised an eyebrow. "Why doesn't he want you involved?"

Hope sighed, looking out at the water. "Take a guess. He worries too much."

Y/N couldn't help but let out a laugh which earned him a deadpanned look from the brunette.

"And you think it's funny?" 

"No. It's just...I feel the exact same." Y/N told her. "My dad always don't want me involved, and never told me why."

"Is that why you're out here in the lone dark woods?" Hope asked, her eyes furrowed again. "Another argument after.... hours ago."

"It was...more than that." Y/N muttered. "So, what brings you would here?"

She glanced at her notebook and speaker, then back at him. "I come here to clear my head."

Y/N nodded, thinking that she probably got out of an argument. Hope noticed his glance and shook her head.

"Nothing like that, if that's what you're thinking. I just like being places where it's calm."

Y/N nodded, understanding completely. "I get it..."

Hope studied him for a moment, her eyes grow worry. "You, okay?"

"I'm hanging out in the dark in the middle of nowhere. Does this strike you as okay behavior?"

"To be fair, I'm here too."

"Good point," Y/N conceded. "I just...figured out something back at home."

"Want to talk about it?"

Y/N looked down at his hands, considering her offer. There was something about Hope that made him feel at ease, like he could trust her. "It's... complicated. I found out some things about myself recently. Things that changed everything I thought I knew."

Hope nodded; her expression serious. "I get it. Sometimes, things just get thrown at us and...." she fell silent for a moment, "we don't really get prepared for them. You don't have to say if you don't want to."

Y/N sighed, the weight of his thoughts pressing down on him. "I found out I'm not who I thought I was. Or what I thought I was. It's hard to explain."

Hope frowned, tilting her head. "I'm not sure I follow."

Y/N ran a hand through his hair, his expression conflicted. He didn't want to reveal the truth, not so soon. Then a thought occurred.

"I'm adopted." he whispered.

"What?"

"My parents adopted me when I was a kid," Y/N explained.

Hope's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"

"Yeah. They never really talked about it. I had to find out recently after an argument," Y/N took a deep breath. "That's...how I ended up here."

Hope nodded. "I see."

"They kept this from me my entire life," Y/N said, his voice shaking slightly. "Everything I am. Everything thought I knew about myself, my family, it's all different now. I already felt distant than others growing up but now I feel even more distant."

"Maybe they were just trying to protect you." Hope tried.

"How can I protect myself if I don't know who I am?"

Hope fell silent for a moment, a thoughtful frown settling on her features. "I'm sorry."

"Yeah.."

She leaned back on her hands, gazing up at the stars starting to peek through the darkening sky. "I've had my fair share of feeling out of place too. My dad often doing more business work and I was left with babysitters. Then there was always the move without any explanations."

Y/N glanced at her, curiosity piqued as she continued,

"Dad's always been driven by his research, his work. He never really settled down. And I just tagged along, trying to fit in wherever we landed. I never stayed in one place long enough to feel like I belonged."

Y/N nodded, "That's...rough."

She gave him a small smile. "But I learned to adapt. To find my own way, even if it meant feeling a bit lost sometimes."

Y/N looked down at the notebook that sat in between them. "It seems like you've done a good job finding your own path."

Hope smiled. "I try. And you will too, Y/N. You'll figure out who you are, no matter how complicated it seems right now. Whether that'd be a farm boy...or something else entirely."

Y/N glanced at her. "How come?"

"Let's just say I know what it's like to feel like you don't belong."

She smiled softly and Y/N slowly smiled back, feeling almost 

She smiled softly and Y/N slowly smiled back, feeling rather calm than he was before. It felt like weights were leaped off of him as they sat comfortable in silence. The music still playing softly in the background.

"You know," Y/N said suddenly, his voice sounding shyly. "This has to be one of the longest conversations I've had."

"Oh?" Hope looked at him curiously. "I would've thought I was the only girl you ever talked too."

Y/N gave her an incredulous look. "What makes you say that?"

"Just the way you said it," she shrugged amusingly.

"That's ridiculous."

"I don't know," she grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Why don't you prove me wrong?"

"I talked with a few." That was kind of a lie, but Y/N was too embarrassed to admit that besides Jen, who was more so an acquaintance than an actual friend, he hasn't really talked with anyone — not even girls.

"Okay," Hope leaned forward, a challenging look on her face. "Let's play a game then. I ask a question, and you answer it. Then it's your turn."

"What do I get out of this?"

"Other than a chance to impress a pretty girl?"

Y/N flushed, "Fine, but nothing embarrassing."

Hope grinned, "Scared you can't handle the heat, L/N?"

Y/N scoffed. "No. Just don't want you to feel uncomfortable."

"I think I'll be okay," she chuckled. "Okay. Let's start simple. What's your favorite color?"

Y/N raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"You said not to embarrass you," she teased. "I'm following the rules."

"Fair enough," Y/N shook his head. "My favorite color is blue. Yours?"

"Yellow," Hope answered.

"Favorite animal?"

"Easy," she replied, "Lions. Yours?"

"Does dragons count?"

"No."

"Probably wolves."

"Interesting choice." Hope nodded in approval.

"Your turn," Y/N said, "Ask me anything."

"Do you like living on the farm?"

Y/N shrugged. "Sometimes. It's a lot of work. But it's nice being able to do something with your hands, feel accomplished when you look back at your work."

Hope nodded, looking thoughtful. "What's your dream car?"

"A convertible, preferably black."

"Favorite food?"

"Anything with chicken."

"Favorite band?"

"That's a tough one," Y/N paused, thinking for a moment. "Probably the Beetles or Nickelback."

Hope looked surprised, "You like Nickelback?"

Y/N laughed. "Yeah. Why?"

"I just... didn't expect that," she shrugged.

"Well, I guess it's my turn to ask you something." Y/N chuckled as Hope nodded, gesturing him to ask. "Where would you go, if you could travel anywhere in the world?"

Hope glanced out in thoughts before answering again, "I don't know. Just anywhere that's looks fun for me. Maybe the Eiffel tower or something."

"Can't see myself going there to be honest," Y/N teased.

"Don't know, it does sound nice according to what a close friend of mine been saying." Hope shrugged, her voice casual, "Maybe, if you're lucky, I'll take you along."

Y/N looked at her, he couldn't tell if she wasn't serious on that or not. He only just chuckled as she smiled warmly once again. They both spent the next few minutes looking out at the river.

• • •

Y/N ARRIVED BACK in the house later that night, using his strength to open his window. He could hear his parents' talking from downstairs. He could tell they were talking about him, most likely about earlier when they arrived him.

"I don't know what to do, Maria," Joseph whispered, no less heavy with emotion. 

"Perhaps there was...something I did. I thought I could protect him. Maybe I shouldn't have sheltered him or at least told him from the beginning."

"There's nothing we could've done, Joe," Maria murmured. "We did the best we could. He'll understand."

"How? He probably hates me now..."

Y/N's eyes lowered, and his heart sank. He collapsed on his bed, trying to conceptualize what to do or what he's even feeling at the moment. He couldn't help but feel like a burden, grappling with even the idea of him being abnormal. 

And so, all the weight that was lifted off an hour ago was stripped right back in.

As he lay there, the words of his parents echoed in his mind. They had done their best to protect him, to give him a normal life. Maybe they were trying to shield me, he thought, a flicker of understanding mingling with his anger.

His thoughts drifted to the ship in the barn. It wasn't something easy to ignore even if he tried. He wanted to forget about all of this but, what if it were truth. If it holds answers. If he was adopted, why did, they give him away. What reason was he here.

It was that part that terrified him. 

But still...he was curious, despite everything, he needed to know. Otherwise, how could he move forward?

After long consideration, Y/N snuck back out of the house and carefully back towards the barn and back to where the ship was at. The barn was quiet, the only sound the soft rustle of hay as he approached the concealed entrance.

He pulled back the hatch, right where the ship was last time. The ship looked the same as Y/N slowly approached. He hesitated for a moment before taking a step closer.

He stared at it for a while, questions lingering in his head as well as the anxiousness that came through. After a while, he reached out and touched the ship, his fingers brushed against the surface of the ship. 

He half-expected it to react, to light up or make a sound, but it remained still and silent. Y/N took a deep breath, steadying himself. 

There has to be something, he thought, A clue, a sign... anything.

As he stepped back, his foot knocked against something solid. He looked down and noticed a small, cylindrical device laid on the ground near the hay. It didn't look like anything farm-like so he picked it up and examined it near the ship.

This wasn't in the ship, but it looks connected for some reasons, he realized. Maybe dad accidently dropped it.

As soon as his fingers made contact with the device, it began to hum and the projector activated, filling the barn with a warm blue light. Before Y/N could react, he found himself in a room.

"Greetings Kal-El."

Y/N looked up to see a man. He looked regal and almost like an adult version of him. Y/N furrowed his eyebrows, examining the man as he continued.

"My name is Jor-El. I'm your father."

"Father..." Y/N muttered.

"There's many questions, I'm sure you're asking, and I can answer them as best I can. Just not here," he stated as Y/N's heart raced. 

"You are Kal-El, the last son of Krypton. You were sent to Earth with the goal of preserving human life. It was the best place that your mother and I chose for you."

"Why..." Y/N asked lowery. "Why did you send me away? Was it...something I did? Tell me?"

Jor-El didn't answer but instead continued, "You have extraordinary powers, Kal-El, but with them comes great responsibility. You must learn to control your abilities and use them to help others. Go north and follow the projector. It will lead you to where your true journey begins. There, you will find the means to unlock your full potential."

"But I don't want to unlock my powers!" Y/N screamed, "I want the truth! What is it that you can't tell here! Why did you send me away!"

In an instant, the entire projector faded, and Y/N was back inside the cellar. The projector was still humming softly in his hand as the idea finally sink in. His mind raced with a whirlwind of emotions—confusion, anger, fear, and an overwhelming sense of loss. He stared at the now inert device, Jor-El's words echoing in his head.

He paced back and forth, his thoughts a chaotic mess. The idea of leaving everything he knew behind, of accepting a destiny he never asked for, was terrifying. He thought of his parents, the L/Ns, who had raised him with love and care. He thought of the life he had known, the small friends he had made, and the simple life that he lived by for 16 years.

Why should I leave all that behind? Why should I accept this?

But deep down, there was a part of him that couldn't ignore the truth. Despite his fear and denial, he knew he couldn't run from who he was.

If I ignore this, will I ever truly understand myself? ....will I. he wondered. Can I live a lie forever?

His heart ached with the weight of the decision before him. He felt torn between two worlds—the familiar comfort of his life on the farm and the unknown path that Jor-El had set before him. The internal conflict was almost unbearable.

Maybe Dad was right. Maybe there's nothing we could have done differently. Maybe this is who I am meant to be.

Taking a deep breath, Y/N looked around the barn one last time. The projector's hum seemed to grow louder in the silence, as if urging him forward. He realized that, despite his reluctance, he needed to know the truth, no matter how painful it might be.

But not yet. No matter how disconnected he felt from the world, he couldn't follow just yet. Not without saying goodbye first.

The next morning, Joseph and Maria spent the morning calling out for Y/N, believing that he was somewhere around the house. They looked in his room, only to find it empty. So Maria scanned around the house while Joseph searched around the barn.

"Nothing, he's not even in the cellar." Joseph said as he walked inside only to find Maria in the kitchen table with a note in her hand.

She handed Joseph the note and he read it, his heart pounding as he could instantly tell who it was from. He took the note and began to read aloud:

"Dear Mom and Dad,

I'm sorry for running off last night. I didn't know what to do after finding out that I'm alien...yay.... 

It was overwhelming, and I'm still trying to make sense of it all. But I decided to leave because I need to find some truth to what this is. I have to otherwise I don't think I can move on from this. I know you wouldn't have allowed me to do this, and I don't want to, but I can't continue living a lie.

I just want you to know that. I don't hate you. I was just angry and confused last night. But I understand why you did what you did. You were trying to protect me and I'm grateful for that. Just know that I promise I'll be back.

I love you both.

Y/N"

Tears welled up in Joseph's eyes as Maria clutched Joseph's arm. "He's gone," she whispered.

Joseph folded the letter and held Maria close. "I know.... but he'll be back." 

He closed his eyes as they stood together in the quiet kitchen.

• • •

Y/N NEVER RANED so fast in his life over the few days of traveling. He could trace every radio waves and could make out every gamma ray in detail. Within seconds, he was farther from home than he could ever remember being.

The crystal was safely tucked from the belt locked under his shirt as he ran, he allowed it to guide him over the hill and highways. Woods and Cities. Bridges and Skies. Y/N felt the breeze and a surge of energy as he ran over the water, laughing and yelling as he sped ahead until he was then running over cold ice.

He instantly stopped, taking a look at the seemingly empty area of icy tundra. As he looked at the crystal in his hand, instinct or intuition seemed to take over, and he hurled the crystal into the ice before him. For a long moment, nothing seemed to happen, but then the crystal sank beneath the ice, and there was a low rumbling.

With a surge of light and movement, the frozen ground before Y/N broke apart, revealing massive crystalline structures growing diagonally upwards and outwards. The interlocking beams of clear crystal formed a logical pattern, allowing Y/N to find the entrance effortlessly.

Inside, he discovered a large room descending downward, with a crystal protrusion extending into the air. Approaching the edge, he felt compelled to remove the belt and place it on the crystal. A crystal podium grew, securing the crystals from the belt, leaving one indentation empty.

Y/N stepped forward, took the blue crystal, and placed it in the central niche. A shaft of light surrounded the podium and Y/N, with symbols appearing on its inner edge. At first, they were incomprehensible, but gradually, they made sense, just as the structure had. Finally, he could read them.

"Speak, holder of Jor-El's crystal, the following word: Krypton."

"Krypton?" Y/N whispered, and the column of light vanished.

Standing there, hanging in the air as though floating, was a man. It was Jor-El.

"Welcome, Kal-El," he greeted his son. Y/N stumbled back, confused as to how he could notice him here as the giant flowing head continued.

"I am sure this was somewhat unexpected. As you must have guessed, I was your father. My name was Jor-El, and I was a scientist on a planet known as Krypton. My wife, your mother's name was Lara. Upon your birth, we named you Kal-El, Kal of the House of El, now the last son of Krypton."

"Yeah...." Y/N said lowery, "You told me that before..."

Y/N realized he hadn't blinked or breathed for some time. The fear and suspicion he felt from the farm all the way to here had come into realization. He always knew he was different, an outsider, but now he understood the extent: he wasn't human. He was an alien from another planet. This revelation confirmed his deepest fear—that he was so fundamentally separated from the people of Earth that he could never truly belong.

"My son," Jor-El said, his voice kind, "I am sure that this has been a tremendous shock. Please. Speak."

Y/N mouth dared him not to speak. He didn't know what to do or say. Even then, he didn't know where to start. After a moment of silence, he was finally able to say something to his father.

"Just...tell me everything."

"What do you want to know—"

"JUST...everything, okay?""

Jor-El seemed to become very still. There was a flash from the podium console, and a blue light linked down with the white crystal, and suddenly there stood a second figure before Y/N.

"Lara," Y/N's jaw opened, seeing his biological mother in front of him.

"Kal-El..... oh my baby boy," Lara's eyes filled with tears with a broad and genuine smile, "How I've missed you. I can't express how truly sorry I am not to have been a part of your life until now. If it had been possible otherwise, we would have done so, but it was not. Krypton was destroyed, and we had no choice but to send you away. The burdens of a lost world were too heavy a load to set up the shoulders of a child, even one as strong as you. Forgive us for wanting you to grow without that weight in your heart."

"Our race," Jor-El continued, "has many differences from humans. The most significant difference is our ability to absorb and use light from a yellow sun with exponential results. Upon Earth, you will be as a god among men, capable of feats and abilities beyond belief. Using these gifts, in any form, will force your true nature and character to light."

Y/N's mind raced with emotions. The revelation was answering so many questions about his differences. The power he possessed was beyond his or anyone's wildest imagination, but he didn't really want to accept it. Could he ever truly belong on Earth knowing he was an alien? Does it have to be him....

"We will be here for you, in this place, a replica of the House of El, where we will give you all the guidance and wisdom that we and our world have to offer. But ultimately, the choice is yours."

Y/N, took a deep breath. He could be any of the things any man could dream — richest man, conqueror, even a famous celebrity — but all he really wanted to be was Y/N L/N.

He raised his eyes from the crystals before him, "Tell me everything."