"Clark? Are you okay?"
John stared in shock at Clark, who had collapsed into the mud.
Star-Lord rushed over, helping the dazed Clark to his feet.
Hearing the commotion, Peter pushed open the door and stepped outside. "What happened, Clark?"
Wiping the mud from his face, Clark looked confused. "I... I don't know."
Something felt wrong with his body.
He was utterly exhausted, and it seemed like his strength was draining away.
The football John had thrown at him had been powerful, but under normal circumstances, he would've caught it without any problem.
"Star-Lord, go inside and grab a change of clothes," Peter instructed.
"Got it, Dad."
Inside the living room, Clark changed into dry clothes, but he still felt cold.
"Are you okay, Clark? Did something happen?"
Peter frowned, noticing Clark's unusual state.
"I... I don't know," Clark muttered, his mind in turmoil. "I saved someone earlier… Maybe... Maybe it has something to do with the lightning."
John looked puzzled. "Lightning? Who did you save?"
"Eric. He was standing on a bridge. I grabbed him... and then—lightning struck us both."
Clark recounted the events from earlier.
"This feeling… it's strange. I've never experienced anything like this before."
He stretched out his hand, staring at his palm. "It's like... it's like I'm sick."
Peter reassured him, "You've gone through something similar before. Remember the last time there was a solar flare? Your powers failed temporarily. Maybe it's the same this time."
Clark looked up, his face filled with concern. "Godfather, am I really sick?"
"No, Clark. You're just... off balance."
Clark: Isn't that the same thing?
Seeing Clark's dejected expression, Peter comforted him, "You just need some rest. Maybe you'll feel better tomorrow."
The Next Day
Smallville High School
After running just a few laps, Clark was already panting. He decided to find Eric and talk to him.
"Hey, Eric."
"Hey, Clark!"
Eric seemed energetic and in high spirits. "Thanks for pulling me back yesterday. If it weren't for you, I probably would've fallen."
Clark observed him carefully and hesitantly asked, "Since yesterday... have you been feeling okay?"
"Better than ever."
"No strange side effects?"
Eric gave him a puzzled look. "Should there be?"
"No, I just... I'm just glad you're alright," Clark said, changing the subject. "It's good to see you safe. I'll catch you later."
He waved and started to leave.
But Eric quickly stopped him.
"Hey, Clark."
Eric pointed at his nose. "You're bleeding."
Clark touched his nose and felt the warm trickle of blood.
Panic flashed across his face as he hurriedly wiped it away and rushed out of the locker room.
Watching Clark leave, Eric smirked, then turned toward the training equipment.
He walked up to the bench press, loaded it with the maximum weight, and effortlessly lifted it.
Podrick Farm
"I think I know what's going on, Dad."
John handed a newspaper to Peter. "Clark's powers have been transferred. He's just a regular person now, while someone else has become a superhero. The media is calling him 'Superboy.'"
Peter took the newspaper from John, puzzled.
The bold headline jumped out at him: "Superboy Stops Robbery!"
John continued, "Dad, that lightning must have switched Clark and Eric's powers, right?"
"I'm guessing that's what happened," Peter replied after skimming the article.
"Clark mentioned that Eric had kryptonite in his backpack. Maybe it was the combined effect of kryptonite and the lightning strike."
Similar things had happened in the DC universe before.
After all, The Flash gained his speed from a lightning strike combined with lab chemicals.
"Godfather."
Just as Peter finished speaking, Clark stumbled through the door, visibly exhausted.
"Clark, you don't look too great," Peter remarked with a teasing smile. "Guess being a normal person isn't all that fun, huh?"
"I..."
Clark opened his mouth to respond but ended up sighing and flopping onto the couch.
"Godfather, did my parents tell you about our argument?"
Clark looked up at Peter.
"Mm-hmm. Your mother asked me to talk to you," Peter replied, sitting down beside him. "She said you've been struggling with your identity, feeling torn about being different from normal people. Before I could even have that conversation with you—boom—you became one."
Peter paused for a moment, then continued, "But now that you're normal, you don't seem very happy about it."
"Clark's just upset that someone else is getting the spotlight," Loki suddenly interjected, coming downstairs with a drink in hand.
Hearing Loki's untimely remark, Peter shot him a sharp look.
"Loki, are you trying to steal the spotlight?"
"No, Dad, I just wanted to grab a Root Beer."
Loki gave Peter an awkward smile, shut the fridge door, and left as quickly as possible.
Clark, already in a bad mood, felt even worse after Loki's interruption.
"No, Godfather. I do feel a bit relieved, but..."
He lifted his disheartened gaze to Peter. "I don't want to disappoint you. I know you and Dad have high expectations for me."
"No, Clark, you're mistaken."
Peter shook his head. "I only want you to understand what your power truly means."
"Clark, if you possess abilities beyond ordinary people—if you can see electromagnetic fields, the structure of reality, the mechanics of the universe—then to humans, you might seem like a god. But power alone doesn't make you one. It's merely a tool for pursuing a greater truth."
Clark was stunned by Peter's words.
"Godfather..."
He wanted to say something, but no words came out.
"Remember what we talked about? Hope."
Peter pointed at Clark's chest.
"As long as you have hope, you'll always find the truth. And power? Power is just a byproduct of that truth."
Clark glanced down at his chest, his eyes gradually filling with determination. "I understand now, Godfather. Even without my powers, I'll always have hope."
The same hope that Peter had once drawn on his chest at the football field.
Clark silently repeated it in his heart.
Good.
Seeing Clark regain his fighting spirit after his "pep talk," Peter nodded in satisfaction.
He wasn't too worried about Clark's current condition.
If necessary, he could use runes to summon lightning and strike both Clark and Eric again, restoring Clark's abilities.
Besides, Clark's later "willpower-based miracles" meant that if he ever truly wanted his powers back, he could regain them effortlessly.
For now, though, this was a chance for Clark to experience life as an ordinary person.
As Peter pondered this, his gaze shifted toward John, who seemed lost in thought.
Maybe John should try living like an ordinary person for a while...
But John's powers came from Compound V. Unless they went to The Boys universe, that probably wasn't going to happen anytime soon.
Feeling a sudden chill, John noticed Peter's strange gaze and quickly looked away.
The Next Day
"I need to find a place to charge this."
Star-Lord fiddled with his Walkman, glancing around in frustration.
He had just bought a new cassette tape at a flea market, but now his Walkman was out of battery.
"Great. Times keep changing, and now cassette players are becoming obsolete. I need to get Dad to buy me a new one."
As he looked around, he realized he had wandered near Smallville High School.
"Maybe Clark or John can help me charge it."
Muttering to himself, Star-Lord started walking toward the school.
School let out early, which meant he had plenty of time to mess around.
"Hey, kid!"
The security guard at the gate stepped forward, stopping him.
"You go to this school?"
"Yeah."
Star-Lord deepened his voice. "I'm Peter Padraic."
"Wait... Are you faking your voice?"
"No, of course not. This is just how I sound naturally."
"Really? Then show me your student ID."
"I… forgot to bring it."
The guard shook his head. "Then I can't let you in. I've never seen you before, kid."
Hearing this, Star-Lord panicked. "Okay, fine! I don't go here, but my brother does—John Padraic. You know him, right?"
"You're his brother?"
"Ahem. Of course!"
Star-Lord puffed out his chest. "We look alike, don't we?"
"No, not at all. Your brother's in great shape."
"I've got muscles too!"
The guard didn't hesitate to shut him down. "No, you don't. One more sandwich and you'll be nothing but flab."
"What?!"
The direct insult hit Star-Lord like a dagger to the heart.
The guard even pointed at his stomach and mimed a pregnant belly.
Star-Lord: "..."
His enthusiasm for charging his Walkman instantly vanished.
Now, all he wanted was to go home and let his dad comfort him.
Maybe he should get a Bowflex to lose weight. Those dumbbells in the house might finally come in handy.
As he walked out of the school gates, contemplating how to get in shape, he heard an argument nearby.
Eric had blocked a couple trying to leave.
Turning to the girl, he asked, "Hey, Holly, wanna go out with me?"
The guy next to her immediately flared up. "Are you out of your mind?! She's my girlfriend!"
He shoved Eric, furious that someone had just tried to steal his girl in broad daylight.
"You think being in the newspaper for some stunt makes you a big deal?"
"You're just a nobody!"
Eric, now irritated, grabbed the guy by the collar and hurled him backward.
BAM!
The unlucky high schooler landed right at Star-Lord's feet.