1. Chapter 1 (1/2)

a world

in need

disclaimer: a little au idea that spans from oliver's words to clark in 6x04's 'arrow' about the people needing people like clark. also in this, the nonsensical malarkey of lana and lex being a thing is not a thing.

"what do you mean that he's gone?" demanded to know one lana lang to some un-named uniformed worker.

one of several who were out and about at the kent farm. lana had initially shown up in the hopes she and clark could talk and maybe even clear the air. "lady, all i know is that the kid who lives here decided to take off for awhile and reached out to our boss about watchin' over the place for him until he came back."

lana could only stare in shock at the man as he left, wondering why on earth clark hadn't said anything to her or anyone else about this. sure, the both of them hadn't necessarily seen eye to eye lately but she still would have thought he would have said something to her! the fact she didn't see shelby anywhere meant that either he had gone with clark or had been sent to someone who would watch over him. most likely his mother despite her new position in life as it would make the most sense. i hope you're okay, clark…

she certainly hoped this wasn't a repeat of his running away to metropolis some years ago and would try to have some faith in him despite recent events. now what lana and most others didn't know aside from oliver queen, is that clark had spent several days in deep thought after oliver's words to him about the people of the world needing folks like him. even at one point using his gift of super hearing to listen in on the world's problems and feeling shocked as can be over how much was wrong in it. that had been the final clencher for him and after some arrangements with oliver to have someone watch over the farm and for his mom to take in shelby while he was away, clark sped out of smallville and on to metropolis.

where he'd spend several weeks helping out discretely before moving onwards and traveling about in america. helping wherever he could and battling various escapees from the phantom zone and thankfully coming across raya. whom would join him for a time on his journey until choosing to go and stay at the kent farm as the journey he was on was meant more for him. the two even having

iefly explored a relationship but realizing they were better off as friends for the time being due to where he was in life. clark's traveling eventually took him out of america and into other countries, meeting more and more people from all walks of life. some even having abilities or well honed skills and joining forces with them on occasion. his journey also meant that his hair had grown longer and shaggier.

along with having a full on beard after awhile. his time away helping him to see that things couldn't truly always be so black and white as he was used too and that occasionally made things difficult for him. his trip eventually

ought him to the arctic where the kryptonian fortress of solitude resided after 2 and a half years on the road. and there, he began to em

ace his training and learning everything. from skills to every facet of life on krypton and outside of it and finally even fully unlocking his ability to fly as he no longer had a fear of heights blocking him from it. clark would be at the arctic fortress for 5 years before finally returning to smallville. where he'd end up having an impromptu reunion with his friends and mother as they'd been having a birthday party for the son he hadn't realized raya had been pregnant with. one she named joseph as a way to honor jor-el and his more earthly name of joe.