Chapter 64: The Dreams of Two Boys

"People like to dream," Peter organized his thoughts and told Azu, "I once knew two boys who dreamed of being heroes."

"Who were they, Dad?" Azu asked curiously.

"One was a boy from Kansas who believed that if he kept doing good deeds, the world would fully accept him," Peter said. "The other was a boy who lost his parents in Crime Alley when he was eight. He thought that if he kept fighting crime, his city would get better."

"Did their dreams turn out to be wrong, Dad?" Azu asked.

"I don't know. Some people think they were mistaken, others think they weren't. The only thing I know for sure is that they made their choice and stuck with it."

Peter paused, looking at Azu. "They may stumble or fall, but they won't ever fall into despair. Their goal remains their own mountaintop."

Azu thought for a moment, then said resolutely, "My goal is also a mountaintop, Dad."

"I believe in you," Peter replied.

After speaking with Azu, Peter went to other rooms to pack his things. In his study, he collected several paperbacks: works by Bobby Bright, Stephen King, Robert McCammon, The Catcher in the Rye, Slaughterhouse-Five, and packed them all into a box.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

The Martian Manhunter was standing at the door, knocking softly.

"Mind if we have a chat, Peter?" he asked.

Peter looked up at him, "Of course, Mr. Jones. We haven't had much of a chance to talk yet."

"Maybe because we both had some prejudices at first."

The Martian Manhunter walked in, picking up a copy of The Catcher in the Rye. "I used to think you weren't fit to be a father, but I was wrong," he admitted. "You'll guide John on a unique path to becoming a hero."

Peter looked at him, surprised. Was he truly so remarkable? "No, Mr. Jones, I just don't want John to turn into a jerk."

Peter shook his head, putting more books into the suitcase. He asked the Martian Manhunter casually, "Were you ever a teacher, Mr. Jones?"

He remembered that the Martian Manhunter had a compassionate heart and had worked as a teacher before.

"Yes, I once taught at a school. Helping children make life choices gave me a sense of purpose, and I loved it," Martian Manhunter shared, placing the book down. "I even adopted a few orphans."

"Many children need help. Some are just a bit lost, but many are trapped in deeper darkness," he said softly.

Some cases were more severe—children abandoned, abused, some by drug-addict parents. Martian Manhunter's face softened as he recalled these memories. "The world, in many ways, had abandoned them, leaving them to fend for themselves in the wild."

"That sounds like a noble cause."

Peter wasn't particularly interested in charity work, but he couldn't deny the Martian Manhunter's actions were praiseworthy. "If you ever need funding for it, I could help with a donation."

The Martian Manhunter shook his head. "Thank you, Peter, but I don't need that for now."

Peter nodded, dropping the subject. After a few more words, he moved his suitcase to the car in the yard.

The Martian Manhunter drove them towards Metropolis as a light rain began to fall.

Raindrops slowly collected on the windshield, forming streaks mixed with pollen. The wipers cleared these streaks away, keeping the glass clean. Along the road, they occasionally saw townsfolk evacuating to avoid the wildfire that had started near Mount Karl. Although the fire hadn't yet reached Smallville, most people were already moving away.

"Isn't Clark coming with us, Dad?" Azu asked from the back seat.

"He's coming later with his parents. We'll meet up in Metropolis," Peter said, turning on the radio to catch the news.

"The Phils' baseball team hasn't been doing too well this year, but they're gathering strength behind the scenes—"

"—Rain is expected to continue over the next four days, though experts say it won't impact the Kansas wildfire around Mount Karl—"

"This jazz selection from Zéchter in Mumbai is now part of our global Voices of the Café series—"

The three of them listened to the radio until they arrived in Metropolis at nightfall.

Azu gazed at the vibrant cityscape under the rainy evening sky. Cars roared past, and through the misty rain, he saw a vast electronics store glowing like a mirage. In the distance, tall buildings lined the skyline like a dark fence, creating a jagged silhouette.

"How do you like Metropolis so far, John?" Peter asked as Azu watched the cityscape.

"It's beautiful, like a whole different world from Smallville," Azu replied, then added thoughtfully, "But there's also a sense of pressure here."

Peter nodded. "People here do live with a lot of pressure, but many still flock to it."

"Why is that, Dad?"

"Well—"

Peter was interrupted as Martian Manhunter suddenly pulled the car to a stop. On the dimly lit street, the sound of shouting filled the air.

Peter looked over and saw a group of youths beating up someone by the garbage bins. The victim, a boy about fourteen or fifteen with slicked-back hair and a dignified aura, was crouched on the street, silently enduring their punches and kicks.

Martian Manhunter, frowning at the sight, stepped out of the car and shouted, "Hey, what are you doing?"

The youths turned around, one of them snarling, "Mind your own business, or you'll get hurt too!"

The boy under attack lifted his head and looked toward the sound, just as Peter stepped out of the car.