Chapter Text
Clark had been told all his life that he was a good dog.
Every morning, he fetched the Daily Planet newspaper for Pa to read later, though first he always had to race Pa back home after work. Sometimes Clark won. Most times he got distracted halfway through by squirrels, birds, or particularly interesting smells in the grass.
He also helped Ma in the garden by digging holes for her flowers, even if they usually ended up much bigger than she intended.
Yes, Clark thought he was a very good dog.
Currently, however, Clark had a very big problem.
Pa had come home earlier carrying an interesting-looking box. Clark had immediately jumped up, barking excitedly and trying to shove his nose into it, but Pa only laughed and gently pushed him back down.
“Easy there,” Pa chuckled, scratching the top of Clark’s head, “You’ll get it soon enough. Be patient, buddy.”
Patient.
Clark was patient.
Mostly.
Pa placed the box carefully on the kitchen counter, far out of reach. Clark stared at it intensely from the floor.The box smelled strange. Leather, metal, fresh paint strong enough to make him sneeze.Clark had been sitting there all morning, tail sweeping eagerly against the floorboards every few seconds, trying very hard to be good.
Then the front door opened. Clark’s ears perked instantly. Sweet floral perfume and warm apple pie.
Ma!
Clark barked happily and scrambled to his paws, nearly slipping across the kitchen floor as he rushed to greet her.
“Well, hello there, Clark,” Ma laughed warmly as he circled around her legs. “It seems Jonathan brought you your gift.”
Gift.
Clark’s tail wagged so hard his entire body swayed with it.
Yes! The gift! Finally!
He barked excitedly, bouncing around Ma as she walked toward the kitchen.
“Oh, I know,” she said, smiling as she scratched behind his ears. “You’ve been waiting all morning, haven’t you?”
Yes,Yes he had.
Please let me have the gift, Ma! Clark barked enthusiastically, hopping excitedly beside her.
Ma only laughed softly before leaning up to greet Pa with a quick kiss.
“I brought the groceries we needed, John,” she said warmly as she carried the paper bags into the kitchen. Pa smiled and immediately moved to help her unpack them. Clark followed closely behind, nose twitching at every delicious smell spilling from the bags, bread, apples, cheese and meat.
“Oh, was everything alright in town, dear?” Pa asked as he placed vegetables carefully into the refrigerator.
“Oh yes,” Ma replied, amused. “Though I did run into Lana’s owner at the market again.”
Pa hummed knowingly.
“She spent nearly twenty minutes telling me about how poor Lana managed to escape her yard and ended up chasing the mail truck all through Sullivan Street.”
Clark barked happily at that. That sounded fun.
Ma shook her head fondly. “Apparently Lois encouraged her.”
Of course Lois did.
Pa snorted quietly, trying—and failing—not to laugh.
“And if that wasn’t enough,” Ma continued, “Mr. Olsen’s beagle somehow got into the bakery kitchen again.”
Clark’s ears perked instantly.
Jimmy
“The poor baker turned around and found him standing on the counter with half a blueberry pie missing.”
Clark barked louder this time, tail thumping violently against the cabinets.
That also sounded fun.
“Mmhm,” Ma nodded, smiling knowingly at Clark. “Don’t even think about it.”
Clark immediately sat down as if he had never considered such a thing in his life.
Pa chuckled under his breath while reaching over to scratch behind Clark’s ears.
“Still a good dog,” he murmured.
Clark puffed proudly at that. Of course he was.
“Enough of that now,” Pa announced, rubbing his hands together as he turned toward Clark with a grin. “Big chum over here’s been patiently waiting for his surprise.”
Clark’s tail wagged furiously.
Oh yes. His surprise.
Before Pa could say anything else, Clark pounced.
Laughing loudly, Pa stumbled backward onto the kitchen floor as Clark tackled him, paws landing squarely on his chest.
“There he is!” Pa laughed.
Clark barked triumphantly, tail sweeping wildly as he wrestled against Pa’s hands. Pa pushed at his shoulders while Clark playfully growled and nudged his face against Pa’s beard.
“Think you can take me, huh?”
Clark absolutely could.
He bounced back only to launch himself forward again, paws sliding against the hardwood floor as Pa urged him on dramatically.
“Oh no! I’m under attack!”
Clark barked victoriously.
“Alright, boys, settle down.”
Both Clark and Pa froze.
Ma stood nearby with one eyebrow raised, though the corners of her mouth twitched with amusement as she held the mysterious box carefully in her hands.
Clark immediately scrambled off Pa and shook himself out proudly while Pa cleared his throat and stood.
“Yes ma’am,” Pa muttered.
Ma simply shook her head fondly before walking toward the hallway near the front door.
“Clark, sit.”
Clark sat instantly, tail still thumping hard against the floor. His tongue lolled happily out the side of his mouth as he stared up at the box with complete focus.
Ma smiled softly.
“Now, Clark,” she began gently, kneeling in front of him, “you’re a grown dog now. Two years old, I might add.”
Clark barked enthusiastically. Yes, he was fully grown now.
He straightened proudly, chest puffed out as much as possible while his tail continued wagging against the floor. Ma smiled at him, fingers softly brushing through the thick fur around his neck.
“I remember when you came into our lives all those years ago,” she said quietly. “It was Christmas, and your Pa and I were going through a difficult time.”
Clark’s ears lowered slightly.
He didn’t fully understand it, not really.
But he remembered those days vaguely. The house had felt quieter back then, sadder somehow. Ma smiled less often, Pa used to stare silently out the kitchen window some nights after work while Ma held his hand. Clark didn’t know exactly what hurt them, only that they’d wanted something very badly and never got it.
Then one snowy Christmas evening, Clark had arrived.
Very small.
Very fluffy.
Very hungry.
Ma laughed softly at the memory. “You were tiny enough to fit in Jonathan’s arms.”
Pa snorted from nearby. “Tiny for about two weeks.”
Clark barked at that.
Ma smiled again, though this time her eyes looked softer.
“You made this house feel full again,” she whispered, rubbing her forehead gently against his. “You became our family.”
Clark’s tail slowed for just a moment. Warmth spread through his chest so strongly he thought he might burst with it.
Family, that was his favorite word.
“And now,” Ma continued softly, “there comes an age when all dogs earn their rightful place in their family.”
She reached into the box carefully.
“We give them a collar.”
Clark’s ears perked instantly.
Ma lifted it gently into the light, and Clark stared in awe.
It was beautiful.
The leather was a deep royal blue, rich and soft-looking, the same shade as the evening sky just before nightfall. The metal gleamed gold beneath the kitchen lights, polished so brightly Clark could almost see himself reflected in it. Dangling from the front was a diamond-shaped tag. Behind it, engraved neatly into the gold, were the words:
CLARK KENT
followed by the home phone number and address.
Clark whined softly in amazement, it was his.
Ma carefully slipped the collar around his thick neck, fingers disappearing into his fluffy fur as she adjusted it comfortably before fastening it with a small metallic click.
“There,” Pa smiled warmly. “Now you officially have a collar.”
Clark could barely contain himself.
Warm happiness burst through his chest so hard his tail nearly became a blur. He immediately shoved his face against Ma’s cheek before turning to lick Pa’s beard enthusiastically.
Thank you! Thank you!
Both Ma and Pa laughed heartily, petting him affectionately as Clark bounced around them in excitement.
“Well,” Ma teased with a knowing smile, “I think your friends are going to want to see how handsome you look.”
Clark froze.
His friends.
Oh no.
He hadn’t shown them yet.
Lois was going to bark so loudly the entire park would hear her. Jimmy would probably run circles around him. Cat would pretend not to care before secretly demanding to see it up close.Clark barked excitedly, spinning toward the front door.
“Alright, alright,” Pa laughed. “Let’s go, bud.”
He reached for a leash hanging near the doorway. It matched the collar perfectly: deep blue leather with gold clasps.
Pa clipped it onto Clark’s collar with a soft click.
“New collar and leash?” Pa teased, grinning. “Now that’s a catch. You’re gonna have all the ladies after you, huh, big chum?”
Clark tilted his head in confusion.
Ladies?
What did that have to do with collars?
Honestly, humans were strange sometimes.
By now Clark was vibrating with impatience.Pa barely had time to open the front door before Clark surged forward excitedly, yanking the leash taut and dragging Pa halfway down the porch steps.
“Clark!” Pa laughed loudly as he stumbled after him. “Slow down!” Clark barked happily back at him.
Impossible, Lois needed to see the collar immediately.
Metropolis always smelled busy.
The city streets overflowed with scents that tangled together. Fresh bread drifting from the bakery down fifth street. Car smoke and warm pavement beneath the afternoon sun. Flower boxes hanging from apartment windows. Street vendors cooking meat that made Clark’s mouth water instantly.
Humans moved everywhere around them, talking loudly as they crossed sidewalks while dogs padded happily at their owners’ sides.
Clark loved it.
His paws tapped excitedly against the concrete as Pa laughed behind him, still trying to keep up.
“Easy there, buddy!”
Impossible.
The closer they got to Centennial Park, the more excited Clark became. He could already smell grass, lake water, muddy paws, and—
Lois,Jimmy and Cat.
The moment Pa unclipped the leash at the park entrance, Clark bolted.
“Stay where I can see you!” Pa called after him.
Clark barked once in acknowledgment before racing deeper into the park. At first, he didn’t spot them. He slowed near the sandy trail where they usually rolled around together. Cat mostly did it specifically to upset her owner before important photoshoots.Clark remembered the time she’d coated herself completely in mud thirty minutes before a magazine interview.
Her owner had nearly fainted.
Cat had called it “performance art.”
Hmm, they weren’t here.
Clark lowered his nose toward the ground instead.His nose never failed him.
Well….
Except for the unfortunate incident involving the butcher shop. Clark still didn’t think it had been entirely his fault. The sausages had smelled incredible, and nobody had explicitly said he couldn’t leap through the open delivery window.
Unfortunately, the tower of canned soup he knocked over afterward had disagreed.
Clark shook the memory away quickly.
Focus.
He sniffed carefully through the overlapping scents until—
A loud beagle howl pierced through the park.
Jimmy.
Clark’s ears perked instantly.He took off so fast he accidentally knocked over a passing red heeler.
The dog stumbled with an offended bark.
“Sorry!” Clark yelped over his shoulder without slowing down.
He followed Jimmy’s unmistakable hollering until he burst into a clearing beneath a massive oak tree.
There they were!
Jimmy stood upright against the trunk, front paws scraping uselessly against the bark while he howled dramatically toward the branches above. Beside him, Lois repeatedly launched herself upward with endless Australian Shepherd determination, panting between jumps.
“Almost—got—it!”
Meanwhile, Cat sat nearby with complete elegance, calmly digging a very large hole beneath the tree without taking her eyes off her work. If Clark was being honest, it was actually becoming an impressive hole.
Clark trotted toward them curiously.
“Um…” he asked. “What are you guys doing?”
All three greeted him immediately.
“HELLO CLARK!” Jimmy howled loudly.
“Hi Clark—hold on—I almost have it!” Lois barked between jumps.
“Hello, Clark,” Cat said smoothly, still digging without looking away from the hole for even a second.Dirt flew neatly behind her.
Clark blinked before asking, “…What’s in the tree?”
“There is a squirrel!” Lois panted, sparing Clark only a quick glance before immediately jumping again.
“We were chasing it before you arrived,” Cat explained with a dissatisfied frown at the hole beneath her paws. “Unfortunately, my coworkers are idiots.” Huffed the Pomeranian.
Jimmy ignored that entirely. “I almost had it!” he insisted loudly, paws still pressed dramatically against the tree trunk.
“Lois believes she can eventually reach it through sheer persistence,” Cat sighed, rolling her eyes. “Jimmy, meanwhile, thinks the squirrel will descend if sufficiently intimidated by his vocal cords.”
Lois snorted.
“Exactly,” Jimmy replied proudly. He resumed howling upward at the branches.
“And Cat thinks digging under the tree will somehow help,” Jimmy continued between barks. “Personally, I think that’s stupid.”
Thank the heavens he stopped howling for at least three seconds.Clark wasn’t sure he could survive much more of it.
Cat gasped in pure offense.
“Stupid?” she repeated, scandalized.
“At least I have an actual strategy!”
“Oh please,” Lois interrupted, still hopping uselessly at the tree. “Your strategy-is-landscaping.”
“My strategy is intelligent!”
“Your-strategy-is-dirt!”
“Well your strategy is jumping until your legs give out!”
“At least I’m doing something!”Jimmy barked loudly over both of them.
“MY strategy is clearly the best one!”
“No it isn’t!”
“Yes it is!”
“No it—”
“Um,” Clark tried politely, shifting awkwardly where he stood.
“Guys, I—uh—I wanted to say—”
Nobody heard him. The three continued barking over one another so loudly that nearby dogs had started staring.
Clark’s ears slowly lowered, “Guys…”
Nothing.
“Guys, I really think—”
Still nothing.
Finally, Clark sucked in a breath.
“GUYS WOULD YOU STOP FOR ONE SECOND?” he barked loudly.
The entire park seemed to freeze, Birds scattered from nearby trees, a distant terrier yelped in surprise, even the squirrel poked its head cautiously over the branch.
All three turned toward Clark. There was an awkward pause of silence. Clark immediately hunched slightly into himself beneath their stares.
“…Sorry,” he mumbled sheepishly.
Now that he had their full attention, Clark coughed awkwardly and straightened up.
“What I wanted to say was—”, He didn’t get to finish.
“Oh, Smallville, is that—” Lois exclaimed.
“Have you finally—?” Cat squealed like it was Christmas morning.
“A COLLAR!” Jimmy howled at the top of his lungs.
Clark’s tail wagged immediately.
Yes! Finally!
“Ma and Pa got it for me today!” he explained happily.
The reaction was instant. Lois practically launched herself forward, circling him with excited barking.“Clark, that’s amazing!”
Cat stepped closer, inspecting it with sharp, approving eyes. “The craftsmanship is actually decent, good leather, solid metalwork.”
Jimmy pressed his nose right up to the tag,“It’s shiny.”
“It is shiny,” Cat agreed.
“I’m really happy for you, Clark,” Lois added warmly, slowing down enough to bump her shoulder gently against his.
Then all three of them started talking at once again—but this time it was different.
No arguing just pure pride. They told him he was finally “official,” that he looked like he belonged, that collars meant family, that he’d earned it even though Clark still wasn’t entirely sure you had to earn being loved.
Clark felt something warm and soft settle in his chest anyway.
Happiness.
Real, steady happiness.
Then a sharp whistle cut through the park.
“Come on, Clark! Time to go home!”
Clark’s ears perked instantly, Pa.
He spun around,“Bye guys! See you tomorrow!” he called over his shoulder.
“Bye Clark!” they all answered at the same time.
Clark didn’t even hesitate—he sprinted across the grass, nearly skidding into Pa’s legs.
“Whoa there, chum!” Pa laughed, steadying him with a hand as he scratched behind Clark’s ears.
Clark leaned into it immediately, tail thumping hard. Nearby, another voice spoke up.
“He’s a pretty big dog you’ve got there, Mr. Kent.”
Clark glanced up, A man stood nearby on the metal fence smiling politely.
Pa smiled back easily. “He is. He’s actually a Bernese Mountain Dog—just on the bigger side of the breed. I’ve heard they can get even larger.”
The man hummed thoughtfully and stepped closer. Clark tilted his head.
Something about him smelled… different.
But Clark couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was. He smelled like a combination of dirt and stink, there was also the smell of meat too, Clark liked it in his opinion.
The man reached out a hand.Clark sniffed cautiously. Beneath the surface he smelled like every person he’s meet with their signature cologne, leather gloves, smoke too apparently but there were other smells clinging to him.
Dogs
Many dogs.
Clark was intrigued, this man smelled like many dogs. Maybe he worked at the doggy daycare he’s heard Lana mention! How fun! He thought still giving a polite sniff, because that’s what good dogs did.
“He’s friendly, isn’t he?” the man chuckled.
Pa’s hand rested warmly on Clark’s back. “Yeah. Clark’s a big dog with a big heart. Real friendly.”
The man gave a slow nod, “Interesting,” he simply said.
Then he straightened, offering Pa a firm handshake. “Have a good day, Mr. Kent. And you too, Clark.”
“Sure thing,” Pa replied.
Clark watched the man walk away.
Something about him lingered in the air long after he was gone. But Pa was already turning back toward the street, whistling softly.
“Alright, Clark. Time to head home. Back to Ma.” At that, Clark’s thoughts cleared instantly.
Home, yes!
Clark trotted happily beside Pa as they made their way back toward Smallville Street, the new collar warm against his fur, catching the light with every step.
Clark played by the fireplace, warm and content.
Dinner had been especially good tonight, and Ma had even given him a slice of apple pie—his favorite treat. The day couldn’t possibly have ended better, Clark thought.
Ma sat curled on the couch, knitting peacefully. Pa was in his chair nearby, reading one of his novels aloud—not for himself, but for Clark, who liked the rhythm of his voice more than the words.
Eventually, Pa closed the book. “Well,” he said, stretching slightly, “I think it’s time we head off to bed.”
Clark stood up and the three of them went upstairs together. Clark followed closely, nails clicking softly against the floorboards as he climbed onto the bed he shared with them. He curled up between them almost immediately, sighing in comfort as warmth surrounded him from both sides.
“Goodnight, Clark,” Ma whispered softly.
“Goodnight, big chum,” Pa added, smiling as he leaned down to scratch behind Clark’s ears. Ma pressed a gentle kiss to the top of his head. Clark’s tail gave a slow, sleepy wag.
Everything was perfect.
But later—Clark wasn’t sure how much later—he startled awake.His ears flicked sharply. Something was calling him. A sound he had never heard before. It was Faint… and quick… almost like a whistle, but it didn’t sound right.
Clark lifted his head. He listened attentively, his ears perking up. Nothing. He sighed and rested his head on his paws. He was about to succumb to sleep when he heard it again.
It was coming from the outside. Carefully, he slipped out of bed, trying not to wake Ma and Pa. He padded across the room, paws silent on the floorboards, and crept down the stairs.
Halfway down, he slipped. He gasped—
—but caught himself at the last second, landing on all fours at the bottom. A soft bark of triumph escaped him.
Aha! Clark: 1. Stairs: 0.
He wagged once, proud of himself, before continuing toward the back of the house where the doggy door waited. Clark pushed his way through, getting slightly stuck in the process. He squirmed, twisted, and wriggled determinedly. Then—pop! He shot through and landed on the other side, free at last. Yes!
Clark glanced back at the doggy door, tail flicking.
…Maybe he needed to go a little easier on Ma’s pies…
The cold brushed against his fur as he stepped into the backyard. The garden was quiet, too quiet. But the sound came again near the gate.
“I swear I hear something,” Clark murmured under his breath, nose twitching.
He followed it towards the back fence then he saw as a man stood waiting. Clark froze. His fur bristled slightly as he stared up at the stranger.
“Hey there, buddy,” the man said gently, crouching a little. “Don’t be scared. Come here—we’re not gonna hurt you.”
Clark hesitated. Something about him didn’t feel right, but the voice was soft and Clark was a good dog. Slowly, he stepped closer. He reared up slightly, placing his front paws on the gate as the man reached through to pet him, the touch was warm.
“Yeah,” the man murmured, scratching behind his ears. “You’re a good boy, aren’t you?”
Clark’s tail wagged, Yes I am a good boy Man and Pa say so!
He leaned into the affection. And didn’t notice the gate quietly opening. The man led him into the alley. Clark followed him blindly until he stopped suddenly.
Ma and Pa said not allow him to wander out of the house without them. Clark hesitated and took a step back. The man noticed his hesitation and crouched to Clark’s level and he reached into his pocket and pulled out a hot dog.
A delicious, juicy, fat, warm, greasy Hot dog.His nose twitched instantly. His stomach betrayed him before his thoughts could catch up. He stepped towards to man trying to snatch the preciously offered food but the man was too quick and walked backwards.
“That’s it, buddy,” the man coaxed softly, “We’ve got a delicious treat for you.”
Clark was oblivious to the other three men surrounding him, one closed the gate, the other opened the back door of the white van.Before he knew it, he was following the man deeper into the alley.
Clark tilted his head—confused—just as the hot dog was tossed in. He jumped in after it immediately. Mine!
Come back here! Clark chased after the fleeing hot dog and stopped it with his paws, aha! You are finally mine! As he was about to eat it he hear a loud-
CLANG!
Clark yelped in surprise and turned around quickly and he froze, the vans doors were shut.
What…?
His tail stopped moving, slowly panicking began to take ahold of him
“Hey!” he barked, confused. “Hey—what’s going on?!” Clarke pawed at the closed doors and began to panic.
Outside, voices snapped sharply, “Go, go!”
The truck engine roared to life, Clark scrambled and fell as the car violently turned.
“Stop! Take me back to Ma and Pa!” He demanded.
“Where are we going?! Take me back!” He whined.
But the truck only sped forward. The city lights of Metropolis blurred past the small barred window as Clark’s barking turned into desperate whines. The last thing he saw before the alley disappeared completely, was home shrinking behind him…