Archive of Our Own ^beta

Clark loved his simple life.

He woke up each morning with Ma and Pa, following them outside when dew was still on the grass. With Ma and Pa busy checking fences, fields and animals, Clark would always strand away to mark his favorite tree before returning and helping his owners make rounds before it's time for breakfast.

That, as well as lunch and dinner, were his favorite moments throughout the day. Ma always filled his bowl with the best meat and veggies. Sometimes Pa, while ruffling the fur on Clark's head, liked to joke that Clark ate better than he did.

Clark had a different opinion on that. He saw what Pa and Ma ate. They sometimes shared it with him if he begged them well enough with his puppy eyes. It was much better than his food!

After breakfast, Clark was free to do whatever he liked. And he liked a lot of things! Running through the fields, barking at cars driving on the road running nearby, chasing birds, rabbits or other animals visiting the farm. He never hurt them, he just wanted to make friends.

He liked napping too, and he had several favorite spots. The front porch near the rocking chair where Ma or Pa liked to sit. In the barn, on the nice smelling hay. Under one of the many trees growing on the whole farm. Under the tractor when it wasn't used. In the kitchen when Ma cooked.

But the best spot was his dog bed in the living room, where he always laid in the evening when Ma and Pa watched tv on the couch after a hard-working day on the farm. Sometimes they even let him join them on the couch, and it always felt special. 

He loved when he could cuddle with them and have their hands petting him.

In the fall and winter, when the fireplace was on, Clark would lay with his belly up in front of it, letting the fire warm him. 

Each day looked the same for Clark, but every now and then, when Ma and Pa had to drive to town to do something, they would take him with them, breaking the pattern of his days. 

He always rode in the bed of their truck, tongue lolled out, feeling the air in his fur. It always made him feel like he was flying.

It was just another day when Clark's life changed forever. 

At noon, Clark was in the fields, trying to sniff out a chipmunk he saw earlier near the coop. It ran off when it saw Clark. He tried to chase it, but he lost sight of it among the crops. But he could still smell it.

With nose close to the ground, Clark padded through the field, careful to not break something or Ma and Pa would be angry with him.

The sun was high in the sky, its heat coming down strongly, marking it as the time for his usual nap in the shade, but Clark was protected by the tall crops around him, and so he continued his search for the chipmunk. He would sleep later, he couldn't stop now when he was getting close to finding the little critter. 

He could feel it. 

Slowing down his steps, he approached a little hole in the ground, tail wagging. He stuck his nose inside and yup! There was a chipmunk in there.

“Got you," he announced with a happy bark, standing over the hole proudly.

Just then, a whistle cut through the air. Clark's ears perked up and he turned his head towards the direction the sound came from. He knew that sound, his tail started to wag faster.

"Pa!” he barked and chased towards his second favorite human. Ma was first because she cooked food most of the time.

Clark shot out from between the crops, running through the green grass back towards the house. He could see Pa standing by the truck already.

He whistled again. "Come, Clark!” he shouted. "Come here, boy!”

Clark sped up, eager to reach Pa faster. He almost ran into him because he didn't slow down in time, but he managed to stop and rose on hind legs to greet Pa.

Pa laughed in response, scratching Clark's neck and head vigorously. “You just saw me five minutes ago, boy," he chuckled.

It didn't matter, Clark was always happy to see his humans. With a happy bark, he got back to all fours and looked up at Pa.

“Wanna go with me to town?" he asked, scratching Clark behind the ear where it always felt good. 

Clark made a little growling sound and quickly trotted to the back of the truck, barking to make Pa hurry up and open the bed.

“All right, hold your horses," Pa chuckled again and lowered the wall of the bed. Clark hopped in right away, getting himself to the blanket in the corner, just behind the cab.

Pa closed the bed again, and on his way to the driver's seat, he petted Clark again.

Clark shifted in his spot, excited. He liked going to town and seeing all the people and other dogs there. Both rarely visited the farm, so coming to town was the only opportunity to meet with his friends and make new ones.

Pa turned the truck on, and they slowly made their way out of the farm and onto the road leading to town. 

Clark watched the trees and the passing cars. The other farms and animals in the fields. He laid down after a while and just enjoyed the trip, panting happily.

They reached the town after some time, and Clark immediately raised to his paws to see better as they drove through it. 

His nose was picking up so many smells he couldn't focus on one thing - food, people, dogs and other animals, flowers at the windowsills. The trip to town was always overwhelming like that, but it only made it more exciting.

Walking from one side of the truck to the other, Clark watched and smelled everything, barking now and then to say “hi" to the dogs they passed.

Eventually, Pa parked the truck in the parking lot by the train station, in a spot under the tree so it was in the shade and turned off the engine before getting out with a water bottle in hand.

“I need to pay some bills at the post offices and buy the paint for the gate," he told Clark who stood on the bed. Pa put a bowl there and filled it with water from the bottle. Clark began to lap at it happily. He was thirsty after the chipmunk chase. “You stay there and be good, all right?”

"Okay!” he barked in response, spitting some of the water around, his tail just a blur behind him.

Pa smiled at him and patted his wet muzzle. Clark tried to grab it with his teeth playfully, but Pa was quicker.

“I should be done in less than an hour," he informed Clark, refilling the bowl. “See you soon, Clark." 

“Bye, Pa!" Clark barked after him, wagging until Pa was out of his sight.

Plopping down, Clark watched people walk by, wondering where they were going, especially those in a rush. 

Whenever he saw a dog, he barked to get their attention. Some barked back in greeting, others ignored him or growled to tell him to shut up. None walked up to him, all of them on leashes. 

Clark was rarely walked on a leash. He was a good dog and always stayed close to Ma and Pa or the truck, but he had one whenever he needed to be taken to a vet.

Clark shuddered at the thought of it and turned around to look at the train station now. A long train was standing there, and he could see people getting inside. 

He never traveled by train before, he wondered where this one was going and if it was far. Smallville already felt like it was so far away from the farm, and Clark never went farther than that either.

Sometimes when he watched tv with Ma and Pa, he saw distant places, and they looked like completely different worlds. He liked to imagine visiting them, but he would never do that alone, and Ma and Pa had no reason to travel.

Besides, he was happy on the farm with them. He just wished he had more friends than just farm animals. 

Like another dog he could play with, fight over a stick and chase through the fields together.

Clark drank some more water, licking his maw after and looking towards the train station again. The few people he saw on the street earlier, he now saw boarding the train. 

So that's why some of them hurried earlier, Clark thought, resting his head on the side of the truck. He raised it again when he noticed someone getting on the train with their dog.

Were they leaving Smallville forever? Or were they going on a trip like Clark did in the car? Maybe he could ask that dog. And where it was going.

Clark stood up, looking where Pa disappeared earlier. He still wasn't back, Clark had time to quickly run to the station, ask his question and return. 

Looking back and forth a few times, Clark made his mind and jumped out of the truck bed, running through the parking lot towards the train station, the tag of his collar jingling with every pounce.

He reached the chain link fence in no time, but after running along it, he couldn't find an opening to get in.

So he dug himself one, the ground soft under his paws. He dug and dug until the hole under the fence was big enough to fit him.

He squeezed under the fence quickly, but as he crawled, he felt himself being pulled back. He yelped in surprise and tried again, harder this time, fighting against the pull till it finally let go.

Clark shook his fur from the dirt and looked behind, his collar open and caught on the fence. His neck felt empty without it, but he would come back for it later, and Pa would put it back on.

Turning to the station, he crossed the last distance and finally got to it, maneuvering between people on the platform until he found the car he saw the dog getting in. Some little boy shouted excitedly upon seeing him when he passed by, and Clark's tail wagged on its own. He had to stop himself from walking to the child to greet him and maybe play for a bit.

He was on a mission.

Clark looked around to see if someone would stop him from getting on the train, and when he didn't notice any serious looking human, he jumped inside, sniffing the floor for a scent of a dog.

It wasn't necessary, because when he looked deeper into the car, he spotted the dog from earlier sitting on the floor between seats, his leash still on and held by his human.

Clark trotted to him.

“Hi!” he greeted. "I'm Clark.”

"I'm Duke,” the other dog responded, wagging his tail. "Are you going to the city too?”

Clark cocked his head. “Is that where this train is going?”

"Yeah, my human and I go there almost every day,” Duke replied. "She works there.”

"Everyday?” Clark repeated. "So you return later?”

"Yeah, in the evening,” Duke said, his tail thumping on the floor. 

"That sounds fun!” Clark decided. It was like riding in the truck. "I need to try it one day.”

A long, loud whistling sound reached Clark's ears from the outside. It sounded almost like Pa or Ma’s whistle, but wrong.

"What was that?” he asked Duke.

"That means the train is going,” the other dog responded.

Clark's tail went still.

"Going?”

He turned quickly, running back to the door, but it was already locked.

“No, no, no," he panicked, placing his paws on the door and trying to push it open, but it remained closed. The train let out a heavy, groaning sound and the world outside began to move.

“Hey, no!" Clark barked, scared. He didn't want to go! “Let me out!" 

He kept barking, but the train wasn't stopping, and the only thing he achieved was to get humans on the train to turn around and look at him, some with worry, others in irritation.

“Someone shut the hell up their stupid mutt!" one person eventually yelled.

Clark went quiet. Almost. With a frightened whimper, he curled by the door and watched how he was slowly getting away from his home.

Clark laid unbothered for a moment. Smallville disappeared from his sight some time ago, now he could only see fields, stretched all the way to the horizon. 

He whimpered sadly. They reminded him of the fields he had at home. He wished he was there right now, running through them or napping nearby. Instead, he was inside a train that smelled wrong - of metal, of people he didn't know.

He didn't like it. He already missed the smell of dirt, of Ma’s flower beds by the house, of the farm animals, of the old oil from the tractor.

He missed home.

He wondered if Pa already returned to the truck. If he did, he was probably worried so much, maybe looking for Clark, sure he was somewhere nearby.

Clark whimpered again. 

Ma was going to be worried too. And sad. Clark hated when his people were sad, and he couldn't even be there to cheer them up.

Who was going to do it if he wasn't there? If he was the cause for their sadness?

“And what are you doing here, huh?" someone asked.

Clark lifted his head and looked at one of those serious looking people that always did some important job. He was looking at Clark with worry.

Usually, Clark liked when people talked to him, but this time, he curled tighter on himself, shaking when the human reached out to him and gently pet him.

“Where's your owner, buddy?" the human asked, touching around Clark's neck. “No collar, but your owner must be on the train somewhere." 

Clark wished it was true, but if Ma and Pa were here with him, he wouldn't have been laying there sad.

The human grabbed something from his belt, it looked like a phone.

“Hey, it's Tom. Can you say through the speakers that we have a lost dog on the train? Golden Retriever, I think," he asked someone through the phone thing. “Car four, maybe the owner didn't even notice the dog is gone.”

"Sure thing, Tom,” someone answered him, and not long after, all that the human said was repeated loudly on the whole train.

The human kept stroking Clark's fur. “Don't you worry, buddy," he said gently. “I'm sure your owner will show up soon." 

“No, he won't," Clark whimpered back and closed his eyes.

Even the hand petting him wasn't bringing him any comfort.

Time passed and no one showed up. Obviously. The human that stayed with Clark became worried, and after waiting some more, he sighed and stood up.

“I don't know how you got there but looks like you're going to the city with us," he said. “Once we stop, we'll call animal control, and they'll decide what's next." 

Clark hoped it involved getting him back to his Ma and Pa.

The human made him stand up and took him to another car where there were more people dressed like the first one.

They all doted on him, even gave him some tasty food and plenty of pets, and Clark felt a little bit better, his tail thumping weakly against the floor.

“He's sweet," one of them said. “Very friendly. If his owners won't get him, maybe I will adopt him." 

Clark tensed. He didn't want to get adopted, he already had a home and owners that loved him very much!

After what felt like forever, the train finally stopped, but Clark wasn't allowed to leave, and they kept him locked in one of the cars.

Clark began to get scared again, pacing back and forth in front of the door, perking up whenever someone walked outside. Every time they just passed by and didn't come for him.

When the door finally opened, Clark almost ran out, bumping into the legs of the same human that found him.

“Woah, easy there," the man chuckled, and put a loose piece of rope around Clark's neck. “Come on, let's get you out and call that animal control.”

Using the rope as a leash, the human led him out of the train and onto the station. For a moment, Clark got excited it was the one in Smallville, but he quickly realized it wasn't. It didn't smell like it and there were more people. Louder people.

The whole place was louder and smellier than anything he ever experienced. Clark didn't like it.

Walking through the station, he looked around, not knowing for which exactly he was searching for. Maybe a way to get back to Smallville. Duke said the train was going back and forth, Clark should probably stay on it and wait for it to turn around, but the human had a different idea.

Whatever that animal control was, hopefully it would get him back to Ma and Pa. The human seemed to believe that.

They stopped by a big, loud building, and the human gave him a little pat on the head before pulling out a real phone. Clark watched him dial and put it to his ear.

“Goddamn blocked line," the man sighed, smelling impatient.

Clark waited. It was the only thing he could do right now. He observed the people once again, envious of how they looked like they knew where they were going.

Among their legs, two pigeons walked in search of food, constantly picking up crumbs from the ground.

One of them stopped and looked at Clark.

“Hey, check this dog," he called to his friend. “You don't look good, friend."

“I'm lost," Clark admitted sadly. The other pigeon walked to them. “Do you know how to get to Smallville from here?” he asked both of them.

“Smallville?" the other pigeon repeated. "Never heard of it.”

Clark's ears dropped. "Thanks anyway,” he told the pigeons and glanced at the human beside him. "I guess I need to wait for animal control to help me." 

The pigeons cooed in alarm. 

“Oh, you don't want the animal control to help you," one of the pigeons told him. 

“Why not?" Clark asked in confusion.

“It's bad!" the other pigeon warned, flapping his wings. “We saw dogs going there and getting put down!" 

Clark shifted nervously. “What does that mean?" 

"It means you're dead!” the pigeon cooed again. 

Clark jerked with a whimper. 

“But I have owners!" he protested.

“Really?" the pigeon questioned. “Don't look like it." 

Clark felt his heart drop. The only weight on his neck right now was the rope. 

“My collar,” he remembered.

It had a phone number to Ma and Pa. if he only had it…

“Looks like it's over for you, friend," the pigeon said and flew away with the other one.

Clark looked up, following them with his gaze till he couldn't anymore, wishing he could fly too. He looked at the human next to him, talking on the phone with someone.

No, not someone. Animal control.

Clark couldn't let them take him.

With a tail between his legs, he ran, so fast and suddenly he easily ripped the rope away from the surprised man's hand.

“Come back, boy!” the human yelled after him, but Clark didn't stop, didn't look back.

He kept running, almost colliding with many people on his way, the rope sliding on the ground after him.

Somehow, he managed to leave the train station and ran onto the street. It was so much different from the ones in Smallville.

Bigger, louder, with more people and cars coming from all directions. Even the buildings were different, taller, tall like trees, hovering over him menacingly.

With a whimper, Clark ran up ahead. He didn't care where as long as it was far away from all the racket and the smells.

A few cars honked at him, their wheels screeching on the road when coming to a stop before him. Someone coursed at him in a mean voice, and Clark quickly stirred away, fleeing in between the tall buildings where it seemed the safest.

Clark only stopped running when he stumbled into a dead end. The alleyway smelled bad and looked scary even in the light of day, but at least there were no people or cars there. 

Sitting down on the cleanest patch of ground he could find, Clark let himself rest, his breath coming out in loud huffs, but it began to slow down.

His heart wasn't, still in panic after what the pigeons told him. Clark couldn't believe that kind man was going to give him away to someone who would put him down. He thought the human would help him. He was Clark's only hope to get back home, now what?

He could come back to the train station, but what if the man was still there? Or if animal control arrived already?!

Not to mention Clark wasn't exactly looking where he was going while escaping. Maybe he could find the station by following his smell, but he doubted anything of that was left with so many people and cars leaving their own scent.

Clark dropped his head and let out a sad sigh. He shouldn't have gone on that train. It was stupid, and now he was paying for it, lost far away from home in a place that he didn't know how to navigate.

He was never going to find his way back. 

His stomach rumbled, reminding him it was lunch hour. If he was back home, Ma would've given him his food right now. 

Thinking of that only made him hungrier. He wanted to drink as well, all this running and stress making him thirsty.

Clark looked around, but apart from some suspiciously looking and smelling puddle, there was nothing to drink there.

He smelt food, but when he followed the scent, he only found something unappealing under the dumpster. He wasn't desperate enough yet to eat it.

Clark looked around some more, trying to sniff out something actually edible, but he only found more trash.

“What do we have here?" 

Clark turned around quickly, facing the owner of the mocking voice. Crouching closer to the ground, he watched three dogs approaching from the entrance to the alleyway. 

They all looked ragged, their fur matted and dirty. A stark contrast to Clark himself. It was clear they were street dogs, used to the harsh life and fighting for it.

Maybe they could help.

“Hi," Clark greeted them, giving a small wag with his tail. “I mean no harm." 

The three dogs growled, closing in on him. Clark took a step back, tail motionless, tucked between his legs.

“Clearly," one of them said, snapping her teeth at him. “You're on our turf, buddy." 

“Oh, I'm sorry," Clark apologized quickly. “I didn't mean to impose, I just got a little lost," he explained, hoping it would be enough to make them leave him alone.

He really didn't want to fight them. He never fought in his life, he doubted he would be able to handle one dog, much alone three strays used to fighting.

“Lost, huh?" one of the strangers said. “It shows." 

“You don't look like you're from here," the other pointed out, giving him an amused look. “Shouldn't you be on some couch getting belly scratches right now?" 

Clark took another step back, but he was quickly running out of space to escape.

“Maybe," he answered uncertainly. “I'm from Smallville." 

"That's a long way from home,” one of the strays noticed.

Clark perked up a little. "You know where it is?” he asked, hopeful.

"Oh yeah,” she confirmed, walking closer. "A little farming town, right?" 

“Yes, that's Smallville!" Clark barked. “Do you know how to get there?" 

“Why should we tell you?" the other dog asked.

“Because it will get me out of your hair?" he offered.

“We have other ways to do that, farm boy," the female dog chuckled.

Clark backed away until his butt hit the wall. "I want no trouble,” he told the three dogs, curling on himself.

"Should have thought about it before coming here,” the stray snarled.

"I didn't know this place was taken,” Clark justified himself, his gaze jumping from one dog to another. 

They stretched out, closing in on him from three directions. There was no clear way to escape.

“I will just go," he offered, but the three dogs growled in response when he tried to move.

“You're not going anywhere, pretty boy," the female dog snarled. “No one crosses our territory unscathed. Think of it as your first lesson on how to live in this place!”

Clark weighed his options. The best would be to run away, but he wouldn't be able to do it unharmed. They would grab him if he tried, no doubt about it, but getting bit a little was better than being torn to shreds completely.

Despite being terrified, Clark growled at the three dogs. He was out of his element, but he was far from helpless.

Clearly it didn't make an impression on the strays. They all laughed at him.

“Aww, look at him!" one of them sneered. "The puppy thinks he's big and scary!”

The other two responded with more laughter.

"You can't fight us off, pretty boy!” the female dog told him.

“But I can."

Another growl rumbled through the alleyway - long and deep. The kind that makes the fur at your back stand up.

Clark stopped growling and looked past the three strays at the newcomer. 

A slim but muscular Doberman with cropped ears stood tall and imposing at the entrance of the alley, staring at the strays with a dangerous glint in his dark eyes.

The three strays slowly turned to him, growling back.

“It's none of your business!" one of them said to the new dog. "Scram away, bat ears!”

The Doberman didn't move, a low snarl still leaving his throat. "Leave him alone,” he told the strays calmly.

"Or what?!” the female snapped back.

The Doberman showed his teeth. "Or you'll be licking your wounds for the next few days,” he warned and stepped forward. "Leave. Now.”

Clark had no idea how this Doberman was going to fight off three dogs, but he hoped he knew what he was doing, because the strays weren't backing away.

He would help if needed. Two against three was better than one against three. Although if he could choose, Clark would very much prefer to not fight at all.

The four dogs stared down at each other for a long while, none giving up. But with time, the three strays started losing their confidence.

Clark couldn't blame them, he too would feel unnerved if he was facing a Doberman so confident in his ability to take down three dogs on his own, that he didn't budge even when his opponents made a jump towards him, trying to scare him.

Eventually, the female dog huffed, her growling stopping, and right after, her companions went quiet as well.

“He's not worth it anyway," she told the Doberman dismissively, slowly making her way past him, the other two strays close behind.

The Doberman observed them until he was sure they truly left, only then he turned his dark gaze to Clark.

Clark wagged his tail at the stranger, grateful for his interference.

When the other dog just turned around and started walking away without a word, Clark quickly followed, confused by the behavior but not discouraged by it.

“Thanks for help," he said, catching up to the Doberman. 

The other dog glanced at him with the corner of his eye. “You don't belong here," he noticed and looked left and right before walking out from between the towering buildings.

Clark stuck close to him. “No joke. I'm from Smallville,” he informed his new friend, crouching a little as they crossed the street while it was devoid of cars. “Well, from a farm near Smallville,” he corrected himself. “This is the first time I'm in a big city." 

They got to the other side and the Doberman led them back between the buildings. He walked with confidence and purpose, unlike Clark, who felt like a pup following its parent - helpless and a little frightened still.

The Doberman huffed. “It shows." 

“I'm Clark by the way," he offered his name, eagerly waiting for the other dog to introduce himself as well.

He stopped abruptly and Clark almost bumped into him. The Doberman turned around to face him. “Why are you following me?" he asked with annoyance.

“You seem like you know where you're going," Clark responded and gave the other dog a lazy wag with his tail. 

The Doberman didn’t return it. “And it's the same direction as you?" he questioned.

“Well, I don't think so,” Clark answered honestly. “But it's better than staying where you found me and waiting for those three dogs to return." 

“They're all bark, no bite," the other dog assured him and resumed walking, trotting on his long legs.

Clark couldn’t help but admire how graceful he was, every step perfectly placed.

“Maybe for you,” Clark said back, trying to keep up and not look like a graceless fool next to the other dog. “You know, when someone introduces yourself to you, it's polite to say your name back," he pointed out.

The Doberman was so quiet for so long Clark was sure he would never hear his name. He even wanted to ask for it more directly when the other dog suddenly grumbled something.

“Sorry?” Clark asked, ears perked up.

“It’s Bruce," the Doberman said. “My name.”

Clark’s tail wagged faster. “Nice to meet you, Bruce!” he exclaimed and stopped next to the other dog when they came to another exit from an alleyway. “So where are we going?" 

“I'm going home,” Bruce replied, carefully stepping onto the sidewalk and sticking to the wall. Clark followed again, eyeing the people they were passing by, but no one was paying any attention to them. “I don't care where you're going." 

“I would love to go home too, but I don't really know where that is right now," Clark admitted, his tail and ears dropping. 

Bruce glanced back at him. “Sorry to hear that," he murmured. 

Clark watched the dog in front of him for a moment. “I was hoping you could help me."

Bruce looked like he knew what he was doing and was familiar with every corner of this huge city. And he could fight. Clark felt safer with him than on his own. 

“I don't know where Smallville is," Bruce said, walking around the corner.

Clark hurried up to not have him out of his sight for too long. With so many people walking on the sidewalk, it would be easy to get lost.

Again.

“But you know how to move around here,” he pointed out, practically on Bruce’s heels to not lose him. “And where the train station is." 

“I do." 

“Great!” Clark cheered and ran ahead, stopping in front of the Doberman. Bruce let out a little growl. “I heard a train can take me back to Smallville." 

"And you want me to take you there?” he asked.

Clark thumped his tail against the ground. "That would be nice, yes.”

He waited, hopeful, for Bruce to say yes. The other dog was his only hope right now, without him, Clark wasn’t sure what he would do.

Bruce watched him for a long while when suddenly he launched forward with bared teeth. Clark yelped, but the Doberman didn’t grab his throat like he expected, only the rope still hanging around it. Swiftly, Bruce took it off Clark’s head and dropped it onto the ground.

"Fine,” he agreed, and Clark’s tail began to wag furiously immediately. “I’ll take you to the train station. If it will make you leave me alone.”

Clark let out a happy bark and followed after the other dog when Bruce walked around him. "You don't like company?” he asked, finding it a bit strange. 

"No,” Bruce answered simply.

It showed. Clark hoped he wouldn’t be an annoyance to the kind Doberman. He wouldn’t want him to take back his words and leave Clark alone.

Bruce took him to the train station no problem. That started when they eventually figured out which train and when goes to Smallville. 

There was only one and it wasn't going to depart for the next few hours.

“What do we do now?” Clark asked his companion.

“You wait for your train,” he replied and turned around. “I’m going home.”

“Wait!” Clark called after him, quickly rushing to stay by his side. “You can’t leave me here!”

“And why not?” Bruce questioned. “You wanted me to get you to the train station. I did. Nothing else for me to do.”

Clark looked around nervously, hoping that the serious human who wanted to give him to animal control wasn’t there anymore. He couldn’t see him, but other people could try to do the same as him.

“I don’t want to wait alone,” he admitted and looked at Bruce pleadingly.

There were so many people around, and Clark couldn’t tell which one was kind, and which one would try to hurt him while waiting for hours for the train to Smallville.

“And I can’t stay here,” Bruce retorted. “It’s better to avoid being among humans.”

“But me staying here is fine?” Clark questioned, confused and angry that the other dog was putting him in danger so easily.

Bruce huffed. “You’re a pet dog,” he pointed out. “They’re not scared of you as they are of me. People will be feeding you their sandwiches and petting you in no time.”

“Maybe some, but what about the others?” Clark pointed out stubbornly. “One already wanted to give me to animal control. Why do you think I had that rope around my neck?”

“Just stay out of their sight then," Bruce advised and began walking away. “Hide under a bench or something.”

Clark scoffed and ran after Bruce, blocking his way once more. The other dog growled, and Clark growled right back, causing him to go quiet, looking surprised. 

“I’m sorry I’m ruining your brooding, alone act, but I really would like to stay with you a little longer,” Clark insisted, stomping his paw. “I don’t feel safe here, unlike with you.”

“So what, you gonna follow me around the city all day?” Bruce growled again.

“And what if I do?” Clark questioned. “Would I interrupt you with something? You said you were going home.”

“And I would like to be alone there,” he noted.

“You won’t even notice I’m there,” Clark promised.

“I highly doubt that,” Bruce responded sarcastically.

Clark rolled his eyes. “It’s just a few hours,” he reminded the other dog. “You take me back to the station so I can catch my train, and you will never have to see me again.”

“I can already leave you and never see you again.”

“Would you?” Clark challenged him.

If Bruce wanted to leave him now, fine, Clark wasn’t going to beg him to change his mind. He could understand when he wasn’t welcome. Only he had a feeling that the other dog wasn’t that cruel to leave him here alone. Especially after Clark just told him how scared he was about it.

Clark was certain that if the other dog wanted to leave him without help, he would’ve done so a long time ago.

Bruce glared at him, trying to scare him away like those three strays from earlier, but Clark stood his ground and eventually, the other dog huffed in frustration, giving in first.

“You do what I say and keep your head down,” he grumbled to Clark and turned away.

He didn’t protest when Clark trotted up to him.

“Thank you,” he said, bumping his shoulder against Bruce’s.

The Doberman growled low in his throat. Clark continued walking next to him happily, his tail wagging. He knew his new friend had a soft heart.

They left the station without an issue just like they entered it. Bruce really knew how to navigate among this many humans and he made it look so easy. He was focused on a single task and went for it, while Clark constantly found himself distracted by a new smell or sound.

He had no idea how any dog was able to live like this. The farm was full of stimulation too, but it all seemed gentle compared to those in the big city.

It made Bruce’s effortless stride through it even more amazing in Clark’s eyes. But it also made him wonder how long Bruce was living like this to get used to it. He would ask, but he had a feeling Bruce didn’t want to talk. Clark already asked a lot from him, he didn’t want to be rude too.

But he had one question he wasn’t afraid to ask.

“Do you know any place where I could get food?” he asked the other dog. “Usually, I eat during these hours.”

Bruce sighed. “I have something to eat at my place. I can give you some.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t want to take away your food,” Clark responded, worried. “You can show me a dumpster or something, I’m sure I can find something to eat there.”

Bruce already did so much for him, he didn’t want to steal his food as well.

“I don’t want you to accidentally eat rat poison," the Doberman huffed with something akin to amusement.

“I’m not stupid,” Clark objected grumpily.

“Didn’t say you were,” Bruce replied, checking if it was safe to cross the street. When it was, they quickly ran to the other side. Bruce was really fast when he wanted to. It must’ve been those long legs. “I just don’t trust you to not mistake it for a candy.”

Clark huffed. “I’ll try not to.”

He swore he saw Bruce’s tail sway to the side in almost a wag. “Just let me handle the food, sunshine. For my own peace of mind.”

Clark stopped abruptly, surprised by Bruce’s words. “Sunshine?” 

Bruce stopped as well and looked back. “It's your fur," he explained. “Reminds me of the sun." 

Clark's tail began to wag. “Thanks!" He was pretty sure it was a compliment from the other dog. “My Ma and Pa brush it daily." 

Bruce stared at him for a moment with a strange expression before turning around. Clark had to hurry to catch up to him.

After some more walking, or rather sneaking between buildings and parked cars, they finally reached what was Bruce's home. 

Clark watched how Bruce jumped onto a dumpster and from there, onto a fire escape and then through a broken window. 

He did it so quickly and swiftly Clark wondered if he was secretly a cat.

Bruce stuck his head through the window and looked down at him. “You coming, farm boy?" he asked smugly.

Clark stared at the obstacle course with determination. He took a step back and ran, jumping onto the dumpster, one paw slipping, but he managed not to fall. 

He jumped onto the fire escape next, which wasn't easy without a running start, but he did it. Maybe not as fast and gracefully as Bruce, but he did. He puffed out his chest in front of the other dog.

“Not bad," Bruce admitted, walking deeper into his home and allowing Clark to go in too.

“I'm a farm dog, not a lap dog," he reminded Bruce, taking the invitation and jumping inside.

Clark assumed Bruce was a stray like the three dogs he scared away, but it was still a surprise to see where he lived.

It was just one room, with paint peeling away from the walls, cracked floor and cobwebs under the ceiling. But for what it was, Bruce managed to make it look cozy. 

He dragged a few pillows and blankets inside and made himself a bed in one of the corners. There was even an old chew toy that had seen better days.

It wasn't bad, and it served its purpose as a shelter, but it looked so sad and empty despite Bruce's best effort to change it.

But maybe he liked it that way.

“Nice home," Clark told him, tail swaying.

Bruce snorted. “Spare me fake pleasantries," he said and walked to a plastic bag laying in the corner. He nudged it open with his nose. “It’s a shitty place, but it's home.”

"Well, when you put it like that, it could use a few potted plants and a nice couch,” Clark joked, stepping further into the room. 

This time Bruce's tail definitely wagged. Just once in both directions, but it was a wag, nonetheless.

Bruce pulled a piece of meat from the bag. It was still fresh and a little bloody and didn't smell bad like whatever Clark found in the alleyway earlier.

Clark's mouth watered a little, and his stomach rumbled.

Bruce dropped the meat in front of Clark. “Eat," he ordered, already walking away to his little nest.

Despite wanting nothing more than to sink his teeth in the food, Clark looked at the other dog, uncertain. “You sure you don't want to eat it yourself?”

Bruce laid down in his bed. "I ate earlier,” he replied, resting his head on his crossed paws.

So did Clark. And he was sure he had a bigger breakfast than Bruce. The Doberman didn't look sickly thin, but he definitely wasn't eating as regularly as he should.

Looking down at the meat, Clark dug in carefully. He didn't want to be rude and look ungrateful in Bruce's eyes.

He glanced at the Doberman, and noticed he closed his eyes, but he didn't look even slightly relaxed. Clark wondered when the last time Bruce truly rested.

After finishing the meat that didn't taste as good as usual, Clark licked the floor clean and walked closer to Bruce. The other dog opened one eye and watched him.

“What are we going to do now?" he asked, sitting down next to the nest.

“We wait," Bruce responded with a stretch and got himself more comfortable, as if getting ready to sleep.

“That's it?" 

Bruce hummed. “What else did you expect to do?"

"I don't know,” he replied. "Play?”

He didn't mind a short nap after a meal, but there were still so many hours till the train. They could be doing so much more than just sleep.

"I don't play,” Bruce informed and let out a deep sigh.

He was definitely getting ready to sleep.

His response was a surprise to Clark. "Not ever?”

"No time,” the other dog explained. "Or energy.”

That made sense, but it didn't make it any less sad. 

Clark laid down slowly. With a full belly and after all the stress of the day so far, he was a little sleepy himself. Inside, far away from the street and with Bruce breathing calmly next to him, Clark felt safe enough to close his eyes and fall asleep.

When Clark woke up some time later, something was different, and it took him a few moments to realize what.

He was covered with a blanket.

It smelled like Bruce.

He raised his head and looked at it in surprise, then searched for Bruce. The other dog was sitting by the window, looking through it, still as a statue.

Clark's chest filled with sudden warmth that had nothing to do with the blanket covering him.

One of Bruce's ears turned towards Clark when he sat up, yawning. “What time is it?" he asked, the blanket dropping from his back.

“Still early," Bruce answered without turning. “We won't miss your train, don't worry." 

Clark wasn't worried about that. 

After scratching himself behind the ear, he joined Bruce by the window. The buildings around made it hard to watch the sun, but he caught sight of it.

It didn't move much across the sky since they came here. “Thank you for the blanket,” he told Bruce, thumping his tail against the floor.

Bruce didn't answer immediately. "It can get cold here,” he justified his action. 

"I have thick fur,” Clark informed him with a laugh. "But thank you anyway.”

The only reply he got was a huff. "Come on," Bruce ordered, climbing through the window. “Let's find something to drink."

Clark didn't even think about thirst, but now that Bruce mentioned drinking, he did want some water. He did for a while.

He eagerly followed Bruce, who once again impressed him with his agility, jumping down swiftly. When he landed on his paws on the ground, it was almost soundless.

Clark landed with a thud, something Bruce found funny.

“Show off," Clark muttered, trotting after the other dog.

"There is a fire hydrant nearby,” Bruce said, leading him out onto the street again. “It's been leaking for days, we can drink there." 

“Do you know many spots like that?" Clark asked, curious how well Bruce knew the city. 

“Plenty. It's important for survival," he answered. “Not everyone gets water handed to them in a bowl."

Clark didn't say anything to that. He didn't really know what he could say, because Bruce was right.

They reached the hydrant after a few minutes of walking, but much to their disappointment, there was no water leaking from it.

“Looks like someone fixed it," Clark noticed, his maw feeling uncomfortably dry.

“Mmm." Bruce looked around. “We can go to the park. It's close and there is always plenty of water to drink there." 

“You're the boss," Clark replied, feeling excited about going to the park. It's the closest place to home he could get here.

Bruce growled at him, but it didn't sound even slightly threatening. More like playful. Clark couldn't stop wagging his tail all the way to the park, and he wasn't sure if it was the destination, or Bruce that made him so happy.

The park was like a peaceful island in the middle of a raging storm. Or so Clark thought, he never saw the sea in his life. Or even a lake.

It was much quieter than the rest of the city and didn't smell so heavily of cars and tons of people.

There were people there too, but not as much. Clark could smell much more animals than people - other dogs, some cats, squirrels, lots of birds. He even caught a whiff of a raccoon! 

It really reminded Clark of home.

Just like with the rest of the city, Bruce moved with confidence, knowing exactly where he was going. 

And where he was going, turned out to be a bird fountain. Their arrival scared some sparrows and tits that were taking a bath in there. 

The sound of water made Clark feel even more thirsty. He looked at Bruce, and when the other dog nodded, Clark wasted no time in raising on his hind legs and resting his paws on the fountain to reach the water. 

He started to drink, tongue lapping quickly. He hadn't had a drink since he left Smallville when Pa gave it to him.

Clark stopped and just stared at the water in front of him.

Bruce mirrored his position. “You okay?" he asked and drank some of the water.

“Yeah," Clark sighed. “Just miss home." 

“You'll be back there soon," Bruce assured him, and Clark instantly felt a little better. 

“I hope so," he replied, looking at the other dog gratefully.

Bruce looked away. “I'll get you onto that train,” he promised quietly and returned to drinking.

Clark did too, watching Bruce with the corner of his eye the whole time.

After they had their drink, they walked to the quieter part of the park where there were no humans or other dogs, just ducks swimming on the pond’s surface.

Clark began to shake with excitement at the sight of it.

“Water!" he barked and rushed towards it. “Come on, Bruce!" 

He didn't wait to see if the Doberman followed, he just jumped straight into the pond, scaring all the ducks that started to swim or fly away, quacking loudly. 

Clark paddled through the water, tongue lolled out in content. He looked towards Bruce, who calmly walked to the shore and sat down.

“You're crazy," he commented, and Clark barked at him a few times. 

“I love water," Clark explained simply, and swam towards the ducks that didn't run away from the pond. 

“I can see that," Bruce replied, and though Clark wasn't looking his way, he could hear amusement in his voice.

The ducks swam quicker than Clark and easily avoided him, yelling at him to leave them alone. Clark snorted the water out of his nose and turned back to Bruce.

“You should join me!" he shouted to the other dog. “The water is really nice." 

He made a little dive underneath and came out a second later, shaking the water out of his eyes and fur.

“I'm fine," Bruce refused and looked around, making sure it was still safe.

Clark couldn't look at him being so tense, it was spoiling his fun. Surely, they were safe here and didn't need to be vigilant every second. Clark understood where this caution was coming from, but Bruce needed to relax at least a little bit.

Swimming back to the shore, Clark climbed out of the water next to Bruce, and not even trying to be sneaky, he shook his body violently.

Bruce jumped to his paws with a growl, moving away.

“You did it on purpose," he accused. Enough water from Clark's fur landed on him to force him to shake it off too.

“I don't know what you're talking about," Clark said innocently, shaking again, too far away to hit Bruce with water a second time.

Bruce huffed and plopped down on the ground again. He was still tense, Clark needed to try harder.

He looked around the shore until he found the perfect stick for his next game. He grabbed it and carried it to Bruce, beaming.

“Let's play!" he said with a playful bow.

Bruce stared at him blankly. “I told you I don't play." 

Clark’s enthusiasm didn't falter. “It's never too late to start," he pointed out, jumping to the side to hopefully encourage Bruce.

The Doberman huffed. “I played before," he informed Clark and stubbornly continued refusing to play.

“Great, then I don't need to explain to you how to do it," Clark responded cheerfully.

He came out of the bow and still holding a stick, walked closer to Bruce, bumping him on the head with it.

Bruce growled.

“Come on, let's see who's stronger," Clark urged, hitting the other dog again. He didn't do it hard, he knew it didn't hurt Bruce, just annoyed him. “I'll keep doing that until you play with me." 

He expected Bruce to move away eventually, just like he did to avoid getting wet. But when he attempted to hit the other dog again, Bruce suddenly moved, snapping his teeth around the stick and yanking it from Clark's jaw with ease.

Clark backed away with a surprised yelp, watching with wide eyes how Bruce advanced towards with a ferocious growl, teeth bare around the stick.

“I think you're stronger," Clark noticed sheepishly.

“Looks like it," Bruce snarled in return, still getting closer.

Clark kept retreating backwards. 

“So… truce?” he suggested, glancing back quickly to make sure he wasn't going to bump into something while attempting to escape the angry Doberman.

“No." 

And with that, Bruce dropped the stick and lounged. Clark barely managed to turn around and start running away along the pond's shore. The sound of Bruce's long leaps behind him was filling him with both dread and excitement.

It's been a while since Clark participated in a good chase. He liked chasing Ma and Pa, but they were much slower than him, he could always catch them or escape them.

But Bruce was faster than him, he was quickly catching up and the thrill of it was indescribable.

Clark could jump into the water. He was a water dog, Bruce was not. But part of him wanted to be caught, so he kept escaping on the ground, running into the shrubs growing on the other side of the pond.

Bruce followed him easily, successfully shortening the distance between them with every second. Just a few more strides and Clark felt the other dog colliding with him as he pounced.

He tumbled down with a whimper, Bruce growling and panting above him, his body trapping him to the ground. 

Clark rolled onto his back submissively, and looked up at the Doberman, heart pounding in his chest.

“Got you," Bruce announced with satisfaction, his body vibrating slightly.

When Clark looked behind him, he noticed the cause of the tremble was Bruce's wagging tail.

Clark's own was already swaying back and forth and it only sped up now. “Fun, isn't it?" he asked smugly.

Bruce stared blankly, then snarled in annoyance and trotted away, his tail still moving in a gentle wag. He stopped after a while and looked back, waiting for Clark to follow.

So Clark did, watching the motion of Bruce's tail with pride. 

Mission success!

They returned to their previous spot and laid down on the cool sand to rest, waiting for their breathing to slow down. 

Clark's tail couldn't stay still, it's been so long since he played with another dog, and even though he was far from home and his humans right now, missing both dearly, it was probably one of the best days in his life.

Bruce was great, a good friend, even if he didn't show it outright and refused to admit he was capable of having fun.

His tail didn't lie.

They knew each other only a few hours, but Clark already knew he was going to miss him. It would be great to have Bruce as a friend longer, play with him every day, but Clark was glad he got to meet him at all. Without him, Clark would've been completely lost in this big, unknown city.

Maybe one day, Clark could get back and see him again. Or Bruce could visit him on the farm. The train was going back and forth every day, it wasn't impossible.

Clark turned onto his side, exhaling deeply. Bruce flicked his gaze to him.

“You'll get your fur all muddy," he noticed.

“Ma will give me a bath once I'm back home," he replied, rolling in the sand to scratch an inch on his back.

"Why do you call them that?” Bruce asked. “Your humans?"

Clark looked at him from upside-down. "I don't know." He rolled back onto his front. “They kind of are. They call me their baby. They don't have their own children." 

Bruce hummed. “They sound like good people." 

“They're the best!" Clark assured him quickly. “They give the best belly rubs, and no matter how many times they say I can't eat what they do, they always give me something from their plates!" 

“Sounds nice," Bruce admitted quietly and put his head on the ground.

The air around them filled with sadness.

"Did you… have your own people before?" Clark asked carefully, not wanting to upset Bruce further.

"Once,” he answered, and turned his head away, sighing deeply.

Clark didn't ask further, not wanting to make the mood worse. He already made it awful, and he regretted asking about Bruce's humans. 

“I'm sorry," he said, referring to both for bringing up the sensitive topic, and for whatever happened that caused Bruce to be a stray now, living on his own. Even though he didn't know the details. 

Bruce heard him. He shifted, curling tighter on himself, but he didn't answer in any way. 

Just a minute ago, Clark finally saw Bruce relax, and now he saw him broken.

He liked it better when Bruce was relaxed and carefree.

With a sigh of his own, Clark laid his head on his paws and closed his eyes, wishing they could go back to running and chasing each other again.

He didn't even know when he fell asleep.

“Clark, wake up." 

Clark groaned, covering his eyes with his paws. “Five more minutes, Ma." 

“Clark, we gonna miss your train." 

With the urgent words, came a bite on the neck and a harsh tug. Clark jumped to his paws with a whimper. He looked at Bruce in offence.

“The train," the other dog repeated, already moving despite facing Clark still. “We overslept, we need to go now!" 

Clark blinked the sleep away from his eyes. 

The train!

“Oh, shoot!" he shouted and began to run, following Bruce who knew the way to the station. "You think we can make it?”

"I don't know,” Bruce replied, rushing through the park so fast Clark could barely keep up. "We will see.”

Clark glanced at the sky nervously. The sun began to lower, and it was getting dark. If he wouldn't get onto the train, there was no next one. Not today.

They needed to be on time.

Clark never ran so fast in his life, his paws started to hurt but he ignored it. He couldn't stop now, he needed to get back home, to his humans that missed him. 

He kept running after Bruce even when his lungs began to ache. They didn't stop even once, barely even slowed down, only to not get hit by a car. 

People got out of their way, not wanting to get knocked down by two massive dogs running full speed.

When Clark spotted the train station in the distance, he somehow made himself run faster. The train was still there, they could make it.

He could make it.

They ran across the street, getting honked at by some angry driver they forced to stop. Bruce ran inside the station first, keeping the door open.

Clark ran through it and straight onto the platform, hearing the sharp whistle announcing the departure.

“Oh no!" he lamented, coming to a full stop in the middle of the platform.

It was the only thing he could do as he watched the train that was supposed to take him home driving away.

Without him.

Clark whimpered.

He heard Bruce approaching from behind, panting loudly from exhaustion. Clark's own breath was coming out loud and heavy, accompanied with more whines.

Bruce stopped right next to him, watching the lights of the train slowly getting smaller. He felt Bruce looking at him, but Clark couldn't make himself look away from the train.

“I'm sorry we couldn't make it,” Bruce said in a whisper. "If I didn't fall asleep…”

Clark shook his head. "It's not your fault." He turned to look at Bruce and saw nothing but guilt in his eyes. “I shouldn't have forced you to play with me, then you wouldn't have gotten tired.”

If they only waited patiently like Bruce wanted at the beginning, they would've made it. If only Clark wasn't so hard to wake up, they would've made it. They missed the train by just a few seconds.

And now Ma and Pa would spend more hours not knowing what was going on with him if he was safe. How were they supposed to sleep without him there?

"Guess we both messed up,” Bruce concluded.

Clark sat down on the ground, looking at the screen with a list of departures. None of the trains listed had the name Smallville next to them. 

"There won't be another train,” he noticed sadly.

Bruce took a seat next to him. "Not today. But there will be one in the morning,” he pointed out. "I won't sleep all night to make sure you get on it if I have to.”

Clark's tail gave a single thump. He looked at the other dog gratefully. Sacrificing a whole night's sleep was a little extreme and Clark wasn't going to allow it, but he was touched that the other dog wanted to do that.

"Thanks, Bruce,” he said and nudged his shoulder with his nose.

Bruce let out a little grunt. "It's the least I can do," he mumbled and stood up, already going towards the door. “Come on, let's get something to eat,” he urged Clark.

Clark's tail moved again, and even though his paws felt tired and wobbly after running so much, he quickly followed Bruce.

He didn't expect to spend the night in the city, but it was okay.

At least he still had Bruce with him.

The city looked completely different at night. Back home, the only source of light was the farm itself, or the stars and the moon. Here, everything was the source of light, and it hurt Clark's eyes.

There were less cars and humans though, but other animals started to leave their hideouts to roam the streets in their absence.

Clark already saw a few rats and mice, and a possum. Bruce ignored them all, and while they curiously watched two of them slip by through the occasional shadow, they didn't try to approach.

Bruce was blending in perfectly with the darkness, he was barely seen while Clark stuck out as if he was the light itself, his Golden fur catching even the smallest glow of the streetlamps.

It made him uncomfortable to be this seen, and he stuck even closer to Bruce than previously, their shoulders brushing constantly as they trotted ahead.

Clark had no idea where they were going until he smelled food. By the scent, he could tell it was meat. And lots of it. He just didn't understand how they were going to get it since this much food was rarely just laying around for taking.

He would know. He got gently smacked on the head with a rag by Ma plenty of times while she butchered one of the animals and he tried to sneak a piece away.

Humans guarded their food with passion.

Walking on the street, Clark caught the sight of a butcher shop where all the mouthwatering smell was coming from. They walked by it, Bruce leading him into the alleyways behind where the back door was opened.

They watched from the alley mouth how the human from the shop was throwing away some meat into a metal container with a lock pad.

Was this where Bruce got the meat he gave to Clark earlier today? How were they going to get it now when the human was constantly there?

“Stay here, I'll get us food," Bruce ordered and without waiting for an answer, he sneaked closer to the shop while the human went back inside, locking the container behind.

Clark watched him get inside and worry instantly stirred in his chest. The human was there, was Bruce insane? He was going to get caught!

Bruce told him to stay, but Clark found it physically impossible. He moved before he really even thought about it, entering the store after Bruce.

The Doberman was standing on his hind legs and trying to reach a piece of meat on the table. The human was nowhere in sight.

“Bruce!" he hissed urgently.

Bruce turned around, startled, getting back on all fours.

“I told you to wait!" he hissed back.

“I got worried," Clark explained, tucking his tail when he heard the human moving around somewhere in the shop. “Are you stealing this food?" 

“What do you think I was going to do?" Bruce asked, dumbfounded. “Ask politely?" 

“Well…" 

That's what Clark would've done. It usually worked on Ma and Pa, and on the humans in Smallville.

Bruce turned around with a huff, ready to try again, when unheard by both of them, the human entered the backroom.

“Hey, what gives?" 

Bruce faced the human instantly, growling and showing his teeth, his body placed between Clark and the butcher.

Clark needed a few more seconds to get into a fight mode and start growling too, crouching low directly behind Bruce who stood all stiff, only head lowered as he snarled.

The human raised his hands in front of him. “Easy," he said to them, taking a step back.

Clark relaxed a little, but Bruce remained tense in every way, growling louder than he did at the three strays.

“You hungry, boys?" the human asked, his tone friendly. Clark wagged his tail a little and the butcher smiled. "Yeah, you are. Must smell so nice in here, huh?”

Bruce growled louder when the human reached towards the table. He slowly picked up a piece of meat and tossed it towards them. Bruce ignored it entirely, but Clark approached it cautiously, sniffing for a foul smell.

He didn't sense anything, so he wolfed it down.

The human smiled at them. “Good, huh?" he asked and grabbed a whole string of sausages next. “Here.” He tossed it under Clark's paw. "For you and your grumpy buddy.”

"Take the food and go,” Bruce ordered Clark.

“What about you?" he hesitated.

“I'll keep an eye on him," Bruce answered with an especially loud snarl that made the butcher visibly flinch.

Clark decided to not argue and insist on staying with him. He grabbed the sausages and ran out of the shop, but just past the threshold.

He waited for Bruce to join him, and he thankfully did after just a few seconds.

He nudged Clark's hind with his nose. “Come on, let's get out of here,” he said, and they quickly left the butcher shop behind. 

"You have no sense of self preservation,” Bruce told him after they slowed down a few buildings away. "You wouldn't survive on the streets even one day." 

Clark panted happily around their dinner he still held in his mouth. “Good thing you found me then," he replied. 

A cheerful spring entered his trot when he saw Bruce's tail wag. 

They returned to Bruce's place, which was almost completely dark, save for a small patch of floor near the window where the light from the lamp post was falling in. That's where Clark dropped their prize.

“That was so nice of that man to give us these, don't you think?" he pointed out, wagging his tail.

Bruce gave him a strange look. “Not everyone is this nice," he reminded Clark and dropped onto his bed.

“But the butcher is. Now you can come back to him tomorrow and get more food without having to steal!" Clark noticed, glad that his friend now had a safer option to get something to eat. 

Bruce huffed in amusement. "He only gave these to us because he saw you.” Clark tilted his head, so Bruce elaborated. "People look at you and see a friendly pet. They look at me and see a mean, vicious dog." 

“Well, maybe if the first thing you do when facing someone wasn't growling, they wouldn't perceive you as threatening," Clark suggested playfully. “You don't look scary otherwise." 

"I'm a guard dog,” Bruce said. "They even cropped my ears to make me look scarier.”

Clark's tail thumped against the floor. "I think you look cute," he stated shyly, looking down when Bruce raised his head in surprise. “Come on, let's eat!" he urged, not giving the other dog time to question his words. “I'm starving, and I'm sure you do too since you didn't eat last time." 

Bruce grumbled something but didn't deny his hunger. Standing up, he walked to Clark and the sausages laying on the floor.

Clark heard Bruce's stomach rumble quietly, but the Doberman didn't begin to eat. Realizing Bruce was probably waiting for him, Clark rolled his eyes and started first, grabbing the sausage on one end. Only then Bruce caught the other one, and with a playful growl from Clark, they tore off their respective pieces to eat them.

One by one, the string was growing shorter until there was only one sausage left. They've been eating evenly so far, one of them would have to eat one more than the other.

Clark wasn't surprised when Bruce nudged the sausage with his nose towards him.

“I'm full," he already justified his gesture.

Clark was touched by his selfless nature, but starting from tomorrow, he would be back to eating good food regularly, forgetting all about the existence of hunger.

He was sure Bruce needed the extra food far more than him, given his lifestyle, but Clark already knew him well enough to know Bruce would refuse if Clark insisted he ate the last sausage.

But he had an idea how to make the Doberman eat.

Wagging his tail, Clark grabbed the sausage with his teeth and offered it to Bruce. “Let's share!”

Bruce stared at the piece, looking like he was going to refuse, lying again about not being hungry anymore. But then he caught Clark's round, dark eyes with his own and Clark knew he got him.

Sighing in defeat, Bruce carefully put his teeth on the other end of the sausage, and they bit down on it at the same time, splitting the meat in two.

Their noses pressed together, and Clark and Bruce froze, staring into each other's eyes for so long Clark lost any sense of time or space, his heart beating hard and fast.

Bruce was the first one to look away, turning with his whole body, and Clark would've been offended and hurt if despite his reaction, Bruce's tail wasn't only a black blur.

They munched on their last pieces of food, their tails thumping in the same rhythm. 

After they ate, Bruce didn't return to his bed but went straight to the window, sitting in front of it and looking outside, into the quiet night.

Clark watched him for a moment. “Are you really going to stay up all night?"

Bruce hummed in reply. “I don't want you to miss another train."

“Is that your way of saying you had enough of me?” Clark joked, sitting down next to him.

Bruce gave him a side glare. "You can go to sleep, I'll wake you up when it's time.”

"I'm not sleepy yet,” he replied, yawning right after.

"Sure you aren't, sunshine,” Bruce snorted, bumping his head against Clark's shoulder. "Go to sleep,” he insisted.

Even the sudden warmth in Clark's chest from Bruce's touch wasn't enough to stop another yawn from escaping him.

“Okay," he agreed, making his way to Bruce's bed. Today was a wild day. “But wake me up soon so we can switch,” he asked, collapsing among the pillows and blankets.

“Uh-huh." 

“I'm serious," Clark mumbled, already half asleep the moment he laid his head down. “You need to sleep too." 

"I'll be fine,” Bruce assured him.

Clark glanced at him with sleepy eyes, admiring his silhouette against the window. Bruce looked nice in the golden glow of the streetlamps. 

“Remember to wake me up," he said again, letting out the first snore.

Bruce didn't reply.

He didn't wake Clark up either, but that was okay, Clark woke up on his own. He came back to living feeling warm and comfy, surrounded by Bruce's scent.

Stretching with a loud groan, he looked towards the window and found Bruce still sitting there, motionless apart from his ears twitching every time something made a sound outside.

When Clark stood up, they briefly turned to him.

Before joining the other dog by the window, Clark grabbed one of the blankets and dragged it to Bruce, putting it over them both as he took a seat next to the other dog.

Clark yawned. “Your turn," he informed Bruce, not surprised when the Doberman didn't budge. Clark made sure he wasn't asleep in a sitting position. “You gonna be tired in the morning." 

“I'll go to sleep after I put you on the train," Bruce told him, his eyes following the movement below, some cat patrolling the alleyway.

Clark's tail moved under the shared blanket. “Thank you, Bruce,” he said. "For helping me. I don't know what I would've done without you." 

Those strays would probably kick his butt. He would run deeper into the city in panic and either get hit by a car or caught by animal control. 

If he somehow found his way back to the train station and got back to Smallville, it would've been a terrible experience altogether. 

Bruce made this whole awful trip bearable. Enjoyable even. 

"You would've been fine," Bruce murmured back.

Clark's whole body perked up. “Really?" 

Bruce nodded. “Maybe a bit roughed up, but you clearly can take care of yourself," he elaborated, looking at Clark. “Not bad for a first timer."

Clark's tail wagged faster. “Still, thank you," he repeated and rested his head on the windowsills.

After a few moments, Bruce joined him, and they looked out together, huddled under a blanket.

“You're really good at this survival thing," Clark pointed out. “How long are you living on the street already?" 

“Two years," Bruce answered. Clark expected it to be all he said, but to his surprise, the other dog continued. “I'm not from here tho. I'm from Gotham." 

“Is it far from here?" Clark asked curiously. 

He was sure he heard this name before but couldn't tell where and when. Maybe on tv.

"Very. It's on the coast,” Bruce explained.

"Why did you come here then?”

Clark watched Bruce getting tense, his lips pulling back in a silent growl.

"I told you I’ve had owners in the past.” Clark hummed, confirming and encouraging Bruce to keep talking. Did his owners abandon him? “I lived with them in a big house. I was supposed to be just a guard dog, but they treated me like family." 

Clark could already tell he wasn't going to like where this was going. Bruce sounded sad already, and this was just the beginning of the story.

“They took me everywhere with them. Even to a theater one day." Bruce's breathing got a lot heavier, like he was fighting with his own emotions. Clark whimpered sympathetically. “When we were going back home, there was traffic in front of the building, so we took a detour through an alleyway so Alfred, their butler, could pick us up. But they never got out on the other side.”

Clark shifted closer to Bruce to offer comfort, their sides touching. “What happened?" he asked quietly, letting Bruce know he didn't have to answer.

This time, Bruce's growl was very audible. “Someone tried to rob them,” he snarled. "My master wanted to talk the robber out of it, but it didn't work. He dropped my leash, and I ran at the robber, but I wasn't fast enough.” Bruce whimpered, and the sound cut straight through Clark's heart. "He shot them before I knocked him to the ground." 

Bruce's whole body was trembling, and he smelled of both fear and anguish. Clark was sure that if they could cry like humans when they're sad, tears would've been running down Bruce's muzzle right now.

“You did all you could," Clark told him quietly, afraid to speak any louder.

Bruce shook his head. “I almost tore that bastard apart before Alfred pulled me away, alarmed by the shots and my growling," he continued. “My owners didn't have children, so everything they owned got passed down to Alfred. Including me. I liked him, he was a good man, but I couldn't stand being in that big house anymore. It felt too empty and still smelled like them. So I left one day and didn't look back." 

Bruce went quiet after that, just trying to calm himself down. Clark didn't say anything either, just been there for him. When he realized just his presence wasn't enough, Clark nuzzled Bruce's muzzle before resting his head on top of Bruce's.

The Doberman whimpered again, but the tremors of his body slowly weakened and breathing evened out. After some time, Clark realized Bruce fell asleep.

Clark snuggled closer to him and kept guard this time.

Bruce slept through the rest of the night, twitching and whimpering every now and then. Whenever he did, Clark nuzzled against him to bring him back to peace.

In the morning, they didn't talk about Bruce's nighttime confession, and Clark didn't force him to. Telling the story was hard already, they didn't need to acknowledge it as well, especially with how embarrassed Bruce seemed to be by breaking down like that. 

Clark was honored by his vulnerability. It meant Bruce trusted him, and he had a feeling Bruce didn't trust easily.

Just before they left for the train station, Bruce mentioned the night after all. He rubbed his side against Clark’s and nuzzled under his chin.

“Thanks," he just said, but to Clark that was enough. He didn't need to go into details.

“You're welcome," he replied and gave Bruce's muzzle a lick.

They left together, walking through the city that was just waking up. The sun didn't rise fully yet, and so not that many people were up. It made reaching the station easier.

The sight of the train with the name Smallville displayed on its front in bright orange letters, made Clark's whole body shake with joy. 

He was going home! 

The only thing he should feel in that moment should've been happiness, but in the back of his mind, there was sadness lurking.

Clark wanted nothing more than to get back home to Ma and Pa, but a small part of him didn't want to leave Bruce.

They bonded despite the short time they spent together. They got something between them, and Clark didn't want to lose it.

He suspected Bruce didn't want to separate either, even if he would never admit it. Under his tough exterior, there was a lonely dog there that wanted to have a family again, although he probably didn't think he deserved it.

And Clark didn't know how to make him see otherwise. If he asked his friend to come to Smallville with him, Bruce would say “no". And Bruce would never dare to ask Clark to stay with him.

They were bound to stay apart.

Bruce looked up at the clock hanging on the platform wall. “You better get in before it leaves without you again." 

Clark's tail swayed lazily. The idea of missing the train didn't scare him as much anymore. 

“There are still a few minutes," he pointed out.

"Better safe than sorry,” Bruce countered.

They stuck to the side, people walking past them, some boarding the train already. Clark spotted the man with a whistle in his hand, walking alongside the platform.

Their time together was running out.

Turning his gaze back to Bruce, he jumped towards the other dog and nuzzled against him one last time.

“I'm going to miss you, Bruce," he whimpered into Bruce's shoulder.

Bruce rested his head on the back of his neck. “Yeah, me too," he admitted quietly. “But you don't belong here." 

“You could belong on the farm," Clark suggested and pulled back to look at Bruce with hope. He had to try at least once. “With me."

Ma and Pa would love Bruce just as much as he did. And they had plenty of room on the farm for another dog.

Bruce breathed out sadly. “I don't remember how to be a pet," he replied, his tail wagging only once.

“I don't think it's true.”

No dog ever forgets that.

Bruce shook his head. “Smallville is your home, not mine, farm boy." 

He tried to joke, but it didn't really sound funny.

Clark's ears dropped. “Will you be okay?" 

It was a stupid question, of course he would. Bruce was amazing at living in the city. Clark just needed to hear it from him.

“I will,” Bruce promised. "I've been doing it for a long while, Clark." 

“I know. I wish you hadn't," he confessed.

"Board the train, Clark,” was Bruce's only response.

He pushed Clark towards the train, and Clark had no other choice but to comply. He jumped into the car and immediately swirled around to look at the other dog.

“Bruce…”

"Goodbye, Clark,” Bruce interrupted him, already turning away. "Try not to get lost in the city again. It isn't a place for dogs like you." 

Clark snorted through his nose. “Bye, Bruce." 

He watched the Doberman trot away. He tried to watch him for as long as possible, but he quickly lost Bruce in the sea of people rushing to board the train before its departure.

Not long after his and Bruce's goodbye, the man with a whistle used it, long and loud, and the door to the train closed a few seconds later.

Clark looked through them, watching the city getting smaller, and already longing for the one he left behind. 

Clark spent the entire ride back home curled under the seats to avoid getting spotted and trying not to think of Bruce already.

He failed at one of those things, and it wasn't avoiding detection.

The whole way back he regretted not trying harder. To not convince Bruce to come with him. He even regretted not grabbing him by the tail and dragging him onto the train with him, whether Bruce liked it or not.

He finally found a friend and had to say goodbye to him, possibly not seeing him ever again. He already missed Bruce so much he barely even felt joy to return home.

He was glad to see his Ma and Pa again, but the feeling was dwarfed by the longing he felt towards Bruce.

Only as the train started to slow down and eventually stopped, some of that joy returned to him.

With the door to the car open, the familiar scent of Smallville rushed to his nose almost immediately. Clark crawled from under the seats and rushed outside, letting out a happy bark when he saw Smallville in front of him.

Running between humans, he sprinted through the platform to the chains link fence surrendering the station and found the hole he dug to get in.

But he didn't see his collar anywhere.

He checked, sniffing around a few times to make sure, but it wasn't on the fence or anywhere in the grass near it. 

No matter, Pa and Ma would get him a new one. They were going to be so happy to see him.

Part of Clark hoped to see Pa and the truck in the parking lot, under the tree where it stood yesterday when Clark stupidly left it, but of course it wasn't there.

That didn't matter either, because he was in Smallville now, and he knew his way home from here.

He ran through town, following the road Ma and Pa always used, and soon enough, he found himself on the outskirts, seeing the back of the sign welcoming people in Smallville.

Clark kept running till his paws got tired. He slowed down to a trot then, and eventually even to a walk to not collapse from exhaustion on the side of the road.

But he never stopped, being able to smell home more and more clearly, the wind carrying it to him. Every now and then, he saw a car going towards him on the opposite lane, and he got excited, hoping it were his owners, but he always ended up disappointed.

Only for a second though, because then he smelled the farm again, and saw a familiar sight he's seen many times in the past from the back of the truck, and he knew he was on his way.

The sight of his home in the distance filled Clark's paws with newfound energy. It looked so beautiful, and he wished Bruce was there to see it with him.

He bolted towards it, not caring about the dull ache in his legs or the burn in his lungs. He just wanted to be home already.

He started barking halfway there, calling for Ma and Pa, so when he was finally just a few pounces away from home, both of them were already on the porch - confused at first, and then so happy Ma even began to cry.

“Clark!” Ma shouted in relief, already running towards him. She fell to her knees and didn't even care he knocked her down, she just hugged him. “Oh, you silly pup! Where have you been?!" 

Her tears fell onto his fur. Clark whimpered and wiggled in her hold, trying to lick her face to help her stop crying.

Pa’s bigger, heavier hands landed on his head, scratching him behind the ears.

“I've looked through the whole Smallville for you, boy!” he told Clark, just as relieved and happy as Ma. "Only found your collar. Thought a coyote got you."

"Oh, it doesn't matter, he's back!” Ma cheered. She pulled away and laughed when Clark finally licked off the tears from her face. She ruffled his chest fluff affectionately before hugging him again. "My sweet boy! I missed you so much!”

"I missed you too, Ma!” he barked in reply, nuzzling into her neck. She smelled like wood, like flowers, like hay.

Like home.

She sniffed him in return, pulling away with disgust on her face. "Ugh, look at you!" she exclaimed, watching him closely. “You're so dirty and stink worse than a barn before cleaning!”

"It's the city!" Clark explained. “It was so awful, Ma! Well, not all, because I met Bruce and he was so sweet and kind, and we became friends!” he recalled happily, his whole butt moving from the vigorous wag of his tail. But it quickly died down when he remembered he would never see Bruce again.

"Looks like he has so much to tell,” Pa laughed at all of Clark's barking he just did.

"He must've had quite an adventure,” Ma chuckled as well, and despite all the dirt and smell she complained about, she still petted him generously.

"You have no idea,” he told her, the ache in his chest growing, pushing the joy to the background.

"He doesn't look hurt," Ma observed, sinking her hands deep in his fur to feel for injuries. “Just stinky.”

"I'll get the water ready,” Pa offered and quickly got to work.

Ma looked at Clark with a big grin. "We gonna give you a nice, long bath, Clarky,” she told him, scratching his favorite spot on his chin.

Clark's tail wagged, but it missed its usual enthusiasm.

He couldn't feel truly happy when Bruce wasn't there to share it with him.

It was great to be back home.

After Ma gave him a thorough bath with lots of bubbles and scratching, they gave him all his favorite food. He didn't even have to use his puppy dog eyes.

But even his favorite cucumber didn't taste the same anymore.

He ran around the farm after, checking every corner and spot, saying hi to all the farm animals and any wild one that wandered in.

Clark felt like he was rediscovering all those places, and each time he sniffed the familiar corner or barked at another cow, he wished Bruce was here so he could give him a tour and introduce him to everyone.

He tried to play, running through the fields like he always did, but it wasn't the same without the second set of paws thumping on the ground right behind him.

More often than running, he was just sitting down and looking in the direction he believed Bruce was in and wondered if he was doing the same.

Was he safe? Was he eating well? Did he miss Clark as much as Clark missed him?

With a sad whimper, he laid himself down and continued thinking about it over and over, until Pa called him for dinner.

He got lots of treats again, and after his owners cleaned after a meal, Clark joined them on the couch in front of the tv, laying on both of their laps.

"Something is wrong," Ma pointed out after Clark released another somber sigh.

"Yeah," Pa agreed, petting Clark's head gently. “He ate but not as eagerly as usual.”

"And he didn't run around in the fields, just watched ahead for something,” Ma added, her gentle palm running through the fur on his back. "Or someone.”

Clark let out another deep sigh. If she only knew.

"Maybe he's still scared after getting lost,” Pa suggested.

"Maybe. We better take him to a vet tomorrow,” Ma decided. Clark didn't even have it in him to tense at the mention of the doctor. "Just to be sure." 

“That's a good idea.” Pa leaned down, moving his hand under Clark's chin to scratch him there. Clark looked up at him. "What is it, boy, huh? Met a nice lady wherever you’ve been, and you miss her?" 

Clark felt a sting in his chest.

“Don't mock me, Pa," he asked and laid his head back down.

Pa released a worried sigh.

“It'll be all right, Clark,” he assured, returning to petting the top of Clark's head tenderly. "You're home now, you're safe." 

But Bruce wasn't and it pained Clark so much it was almost physical.

He didn't sleep well that night, waking up constantly and missing not seeing Bruce standing guard by the window or sleeping peacefully next to him.

The next morning, after the farm’s been taken care of, Ma and Pa prepared the truck to take him to the vet.

His collar was back one, a comforting weight around his neck, and Ma added a leash to it.

“So you don't get lost again, you silly boy," she explained and stroked his muzzle.

“I think he has enough after last time," Pa chuckled, opening the truck bed.

Clark looked at him. If he knew Bruce would go back with him, Clark would happily jump back inside the train to get him. He would feel awful for scaring Ma and Pa again, but missing Bruce was hurting much worse.

He wasn't aware one could be this hurt.

“All right, time to go," Pa announced, patting the bed of the truck for Clark to jump into. “The doctor said she can take a look at you before she opens up." 

Clark just sat next to the truck. He didn't want to go, and not only because he disliked vet visits. 

Pa sighed and made the decision for him, lifting him up and putting him on. Clark just curled on his blankets.

“I'm really worried about him," Ma said quietly to Pa.

“Yeah, me too." Pa gave her a kiss on the cheek. A kiss that always made her smile, but not this time. “But he'll be fine. The doctor will check him and tell us what's wrong." 

Only if she cuts me open and pulls out my broken heart, Clark thought to himself with a sad sigh.

Ma and Pa gave him worried looks before getting inside the truck. It came to life under Clark, but it turned off almost instantly.

“And where did you come from?" Pa asked someone.

Clark's ears perked up and he raised his head, sniffing. He could swear he caught the smallest whiff of the city.

Ma and Pa left the truck. “I don't think any of our neighbors have a Doberman.”

Doberman! 

Clark was out of the truck in seconds, jumping straight to the ground and running past Pa to get to the dog standing in the middle of the driveway.

"Bruce!” he barked and barreled right into the other dog, knocking them both down.

Bruce growled something about being careful, but Clark didn't listen, because he was here! Bruce was here, on his farm!

They wrestled like two puppies, growling and snapping at each other, and Clark gave Bruce so many kisses. He couldn't contain his joy, because with Bruce here, everything felt right again.

“How did you get here?" Clark asked once he was calm enough to do so. He laid on Bruce with all his weight.

"I took the train,” Bruce answered bluntly, then looked away shyly. "I couldn't stop thinking about you.”

Clark never wagged his tail as fast as right now. He was sure he was going to fly away any second now.

"Me too,” he said back and jumped off Bruce to run to his owners, barking excitedly. "Ma, Pa! This is Bruce! He can stay, right?!" He stopped running circles around his owners and looked at Bruce with fear. “You came to stay, right?" 

Bruce huffed, getting back on his paws. "Yeah, I'm here to stay,” he replied, still flustered. "If you want me to.”

Clark ran back to him, nuzzling his muzzle. "Of course I want you to.”

"I was wrong,” Pa said suddenly. He and Ma watched the scene unfold with a mixture of surprise and amusement. "He found himself a boyfriend when he was away.”

Clark barked proudly.

"That's okay,” Ma chuckled and crouched, observing Bruce. "Come here, boy. Let me have a look at you.”

Hesitant, Bruce looked at Clark, and only when he nudged him encouragingly, the Doberman stepped closer to Ma and Pa.

Pa was already crouching too. Bruce approached them with his head lowered and sniffed their fists when they extended them to him.

“Good boy," Pa said when Bruce allowed to be touched, and he was given probably the first pets in years. Ma quickly joined and Clark watched how Bruce practically melted under their touch, his legs bucking. 

“You took care of Clark when he was on a bander?" Ma joked, finding a spot behind an ear that had Bruce plop down and his hind leg thumping. “I guess we know what was wrong with him." 

Pa nodded. “He missed his friend." He gave Bruce's head one last part and got up, looking at Clark who stood close by, his whole body vibrating with the intensity of his wagging. “I guess we have no choice but keep this feller." 

“Yes!" Clark agreed, bouncing up to Bruce and bumping into him. “He needs to stay!" 

“It's still their decision," Bruce pointed out. 

“Shush!" 

“I don't see why not," Ma pointed out. “We have space. And he doesn't look like he has an owner. You stink just like Clark did yesterday, only worse somehow!”

Bruce grunted, offended.

"I think you smell nice!” Clark assured him quickly.

"We were heading to the vet anyway, we may as well take this one instead of Clark since he already feels better,” Pa suggested. “She can check him for a chip." 

Martha smiled at Bruce. “Looks like you'll be staying with us, boy," she told him and affectionately rubbed his muzzle. “Just need to check if you're healthy." 

Clark couldn't be happier. He could've done without a vet visit, but it wasn't for him anymore, and even if it was, with Bruce by his side it didn't seem so scary anymore.

Clark chased and jumped after fireflies that hovered over the fields behind the farm. They were fast and he couldn’t catch even one, but he still tried, having too much fun.

Bruce laid nearby, a new shiny collar hanging from his neck, the golden tag looking pretty against his dark fur. 

“You gonna strain your neck," he commented on Clark's attempts at catching the glowing bugs.

“I know what I'm doing," Clark grunted and jumped up again, missing the firefly by an inch! “Almost!”

Bruce rolled his eyes and Clark crouched low to eject himself into the air again when a loud whistling distracted him.

“Clark! Bruce!" Ma shouted from across the field where she stood on the back porch. “What are you still doing out there?! It's dark, come home already!" 

"But I haven't caught the bugs yet!” Clark protested in a few sharp barks.

Bruce was already getting up. “You heard Ma," he told Clark and stretched with a loud yawn. “Come on, farm boy." 

He picked up his new chew toy, a squeaky bat that Ma and Pa bought him as a welcoming gift. Bruce really liked it and carried it everywhere with him. 

Clark snapped his jaws, trying one last time to catch the firefly, before following Bruce.

“You're a farm boy too now, you know?" he asked teasingly and grabbed one end of the bat, tugging gently.

Bruce tugged back with a playful growl, and they continued this little game all the way to the house where Ma waited for them.

“About time," she said with a smile and let them in before locking the door for the night.

Clark and Bruce trotted to the kitchen first to get some water before joining Ma and Pa in the living room. 

They watched tv like usual before bed, Pa had his arm around Ma snuggled against his side. Clark wagged his tail at the sight, they always looked so happy like this.

“Come here, Clark." Pa patted the spot next to him. "You still deserve some couch time after your little adventure.”

Clark quickly jumped onto the couch and laid down with his head in Pa’s lap, groaning happily when his big hand scratched him on the belly.

"You too, Bruce,” Ma said with a smile. "You both deserve some good cuddles.”

Bruce gently put his toy in the corner of their dog bed, a new one and big enough to fit both of them, before he jumped onto Ma’s side of the couch and laid down comfortably.

He eagerly bared his throat and belly for Ma to scratch, his tail thumping loudly against the couch.

Clark didn't expect Bruce to adjust so fast to having owners again. He was sure the other dog would be shy and reserved for some time. Instead, he was already presenting his belly on day one. He must've really missed belonging to someone.

Clark was proud of him.

“You're the sweetest boy," Ma cooed at Bruce in her lap. “Not a mean bone in your body." 

Pa smiled at Bruce. "He’s going to be spoiled in no time.”

"Good,” Ma decided, running her palm up and down Bruce's belly. "He deserves it.”

Clark couldn't agree more. “She’s not wrong, you know?” he asked Bruce, looking at him lovingly.

The Doberman grunted. “Shut up," he ordered and gave Clark's muzzle a shy lick.

It definitely made Clark shut up, but it also made him wiggle to get closer to the Doberman, resting his head on top of Bruce.

Bruce made an annoyed sound again, but right after it, he let out a deep, content sigh. Clark did the same, and they began to doze off slowly, the matching, joyful thumping of their tails blending in with the sounds of the typical peaceful evening at Kents’ farm.