You know how the story goes.
There was a planet called Krypton, a planet that was collapsing.
A man named Jor-El, knowing the fate of his home's doom, tried to warn the Kryptonian Council but unfortunately his concerns were ignored.
Not losing hope, he built a spacecraft and sent his infant son to another planet called Earth.
Jor-El along with his wife, Lara stayed on Krypton, and died in the aftermath when the planet exploded.
The spacecraft landed in rural Kansas, where it was found by a passing couple named Jonathan and Martha Kent. They immediately took the child in, adopting him and raising him like their own.
They gave him the name, 'Clark Kent.'
The Kryptonian, now the age, 8, was playing near the porch.
Martha was cooking in the kitchen, making her homemade pie that smelled heavenly.
Jonathan was sitting on his rocking chair, reading a newspaper while keeping a watchful eye on the Kryptonian child, who just found out he had these special abilities.
They first found out when Clark was stuck on the roof of the barn, accidentally slipped but instead of falling to the ground.
He floated mid air, just mere inches from the ground as he started to fly around.
The couple couldn't believe their eyes at first but got used to seeing their son flying around, it made chores go by very quickly.
Though the quiet peace wouldn't last long.
One day, a black SUV pulled up the long dirt driveway to Kent's home.
Jonathan, who was outside fixing the fence, making sure to keep watch of the krypton child doing flips in the air, felt a prickle of unease as he noticed the vehicle pull up.
Clark paused as he saw the unease on Jonathan's face as he stopped doing flips and set himself down on the ground.
A man in a dark suit emerged out of the vehicle, his expression unreadable. He looked around, before his eyes landed on Jonathan.
"Mr. Kent, I presume?" the man stated, his voice calm, too calm.
Jonathan nodded as he moved Clark behind him protectively.
"My name is Cecil Stedman. I'm with the Global Defense Agency, GDA for short. I would like to talk with you about your son."
Jonathan's blood ran cold.
Martha, who was inside, alerted by the sudden quiet, stepped onto the porch.
"Mrs. Kent." the man, Cecil greeted.
"Our son is none of your business, Mr. Stedman." Jonathan replied, his voice firm.
Martha walked over, she was confused, what was going on.
She turned to Clark who went to her side, hugging her leg as she softly ran her hand through his hair.
Though Cecil didn't flinch.
"With all due respect, Mr. Kent. A child with powers and not from here, tends to become the GDA's business."
Martha gasped, pulling Clark close to her.
"He's a child. Just a boy.."
Cecil's gaze slowly became softened as he sighed.
"I understand your worries. Believe me, I do. But you have to understand where I come from. Your son possesses abilities only one can hope to have, it could help this world or .. destroy it."
Cecil let out another sigh.
"What he needs is guidance. Protection. And frankly, something that goes beyond what a single family can give, however loving, cannot provide."
"Protection?" Jonathan scoffed.
"From whom? From what?" What are you trying to get at?"
"From those who would find him, who are less than kind and exploit him." Cecil said.
"This is only the beginning, and he's only beginning to grasp it. The world is a dangerous place, wouldn't you agree, Mr. Kent? More dangerous than you can imagine."
Cecil paused, letting his words sink in.
"We're not here to take your son away from you. We want to help him to understand his abilities. We can train him. To ensure he grows up not just a powerful asset, but a hero."
Clark peeked his head behind Martha's leg.
That single word resonated deep within his young mind.
He can be like those guys in those comics saving the day.
His parents had always taught him to be kind, about helping others, doing good for others.
And that word, 'hero,' felt like a culmination of everything they preached.
Jonathan and Martha exchanged a long, worried glance at each other.
They loved the boy like their own, but they knew Cecil's words were true, it struck a bit of fear for the future but hope.
Hope that their son could thrive and use his gifts for good, like they had always taught him.
"You'll really do that?" Martha questioned, her voice barely a whisper.
"Of course, we will provide the resources, the training, and the secure environment for him. We will help him understand how to use his powers responsibly. He could be humanity's greatest hope but he needs our help to get there.
Cecil then looked down at Clark as he kneeled.
"You wanna be a hero, kid?"
"Mmh.. I want to help and .. and I'll give it my all!"
Cecil let out an amused hum.
"That's what I like to hear– ah.. You got a bright kid, Mr. and Mrs. Kent."
Cecil then blinked when he felt arms wrap around him as Clark hugged him as he hesitantly patted his back, slowly relaxing as he looked up at Jonathan and Martha.
The city jolted under the impact of a giant monster's attacks.
Screams of civilians and the sounds of buildings crumbling.
A mother ran through the crowd but bumped into another which made her lose her grip on her daughter's hand.
The little girl tried to call after her mom but in that desperation, her foot was pinned beneath a crack in the ground. Her frantic cry was drowned by the monster's screeched roar, its shadow falling over the little girl.
The child cried hopelessly before squeezing her eyes shut, bracing for the inevitable.
The little sniffed as she managed to gather enough courage to peek.
She saw a figure who stopped the descending foot before it could crush her.
The figure used their strength to push back the monster before moving with breathtaking speed, and guiding the monster's fall to the ground and easing it to the ground gently, ensuring no further destruction.
Those previously frozen scrambled to safety.
The mother seemed to notice her empty hand as she looked around frantically, before shielding her eyes from the gold light, but she could discern a curse of a soft smile. The figure floated down, landing softly, and surveyed politely through the dazed, staring faces.
Though he appeared a bit young, his voice carried a steady, calm.
Some civilians, still trembling, managed a nod.
Some were hiding behind the rubble as they stared at the figure.
The figure walked directly to the stuck girl, crouching down.
"Hey there, hey .. It's okay.. Deep breaths. Just a few deep breaths for me, alright?"
The little girl let a few tears slip, the adrenaline of fear still in her system but still she complied as she took deep breaths but took the figure's hand who squeezed hers in response.
While the little girl was breathing, the figure managed to get her foot unstuck.
Then, pulling her into their arms as the girl realized she wasn't stuck anymore before her gaze got fixated on a single, dark curl that fell across their forehead.
She reached up, her hands gently playing with it.
The girl's mother slipped out of the crowd as she cried out.
The figure softly smiled and gently passed the girl into her mother's embrace.
The mother sobbed as she cradled her daughter as she choked out a 'thank you' over and over.
But before the figure could turn, got stopped by the mother who tugged on his cape.
"I.. thank you.. Truly.. What do you go by.."