Chapter 7/Departure

As soon as the boy entered the upper room of the Talon, Chloe rushed over to hug him, ignoring all protocol. The boy stiffened. Clark watched him with a careful eye as Chloe pulled back and bent to look into his eyes.

"Are you all right? What happened to you?"

Lois spoke up from where she stood near the door.

"Lex Luthor was using him as a lab rat," she said, looking at Clark.

Clark frowned slightly. "But how did you escape?"

Lois nodded to the boy. "I knew Lex would want him for his freak museum, when Chloe called to keep a look out for him when he went missing, I assumed Lex would have him."

Chloe and Clark exchanged a look. Chloe's said "I-told-you-so," Clark's was apologetic.

"Didn't you think Lex would try to find me after I set fire to his room?" The boy asked Clark.

Clark opened his mouth to answer but Chloe spoke for him.

"Clark likes to believe the best in people, even if they're Lex Luthor."

Clark smiled sheepishly as the boy studied him. Suddenly he spoke abruptly.

"I did it."

Three pairs of eyes fixed on him. Chloe gave a little laugh.

"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about."

The boy stared at them steadily. "I did it. Burned the room. No one hired me. It was all my idea."

Clark looked stunned. "But why?"

The boy shrugged. "The LexCorp ruined my family. I was just trying to return the favor."

"How did it ruin your family?"

"Lex fired my dad which led to the big argument that led to my parent's divorce." The boy walked over to the couch and sat, shrugging again. "I just wanted some revenge, that's all. But since you three are insistent on messing up my plans, I guess I'm going to have to leave Smallville and wait for the opportune moment."

It was the most Clark had ever heard the boy speak. Chloe bit her lip for a moment before stepping forward.

"I have a better idea," she said.

The boy looked at her.

"I was researching schools for children with superpowers, and I think I found one. It took me a while and I had to pull a few strings, but I've got the name and location."

The boy continued to look at her. There was a pause. Chloe moved first, walking over to her desk and picking up some papers from the many scattered around her computer.

"It's called Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. It looks promising."

She handed the papers to the boy. He looked them over quietly. Clark, Chloe, and Lois exchanged glances.

"It's in New England," he said finally. He did not sound upset, only contemplative.

"Yes, but it's hidden. Neither one of your parents could find you if you didn't want them to." Chloe held her breath, hoping this had been the right thing to say.

The boy tilted his head to the side, thinking. After a while he spoke.

"I guess I could check it out. I don't have anything else to lose."

Clark smiled. "I'll take you there tomorrow."

000000

The boy stood in front of a large Mansion, now covered with some of Clark's old clothes. Its courtyards stretched farther than the boy could see, even on his tip-toes. Clark watched the boy with an amused smile as the younger boy turned around and around, taking everything in.

"Do you want me to walk you in?" Clark asked.

The boy stopped turning and faced him. A small smile flickered across the boy's lips.

"I think I got it Clark, but thanks."

Clark nodded. "Well, see you kid."

The boy nodded back and turned, starting into the long hallway that would lead to the front doors. Just when he was about to step into the archway, he stopped. Turning to Clark, his smile widened.

"And my name is John," he said. Clark started in surprise. "John Allderdyce."

A smile grew on Clark's face. "It's nice to meet you, John."

"It's nice to meet you too, Clark." The boy grinned.

With that, John Allderdyce took off down the hallway; away from his old life and into a brand new one full of opportunities and a future.

A/N: Oy, I know this story is really horrible. But I wasn't planning on it being a big thing. Just a little drabble fic to write down because I had an idea. The ending is really pathetic I know. I tried to style this kind of like an episode, so that's why it's choppy and not my best work. Trust me, my next Smallville story "A Tangled Web" will be MUCH better. Keep on the look out for it. I'm excited about it. :-D Well, "See you in another life, eh brothah?"