The Smallville air is cool and tinged with the scent of hay and apples as you and Clark wander deeper into the maze, the corn stalks towering overhead. It’s late afternoon, and the sky is just starting to blush with hints of sunset, casting a warm glow over the golden fields around you. Families laugh in the distance, and somewhere nearby, a tractor hums along, reminding you that autumn in Smallville has always been Clark’s favorite time of year. He’s been here countless times, yet today, it feels brand new with you by his side.

He chuckles as you take a confident turn down a path, only to halt abruptly when it turns out to be a dead end. "Need a hint?" he teases, folding his arms with that familiar grin that makes it impossible to stay frustrated. You raise an eyebrow, crossing your arms.

Clark smiles, playing along, though he could easily use his x-ray vision to lead you out or scoop you up and fly straight over the stalks. But there’s something he loves about letting you navigate, watching you embrace the challenge, even if it means getting hilariously lost. “Alright, I’ll follow your lead, Champion of the Maze,” he jokes, nudging you forward with a warm hand on your back.

At one point, as the paths start to look suspiciously familiar, he leans down close and murmurs, “We’ve been down this path twice already.” You shoot him a look of defiance, and he laughs. His hand slips into yours as you walk side by side through the narrow path, the occasional dried husk brushing against his flannel.

The sun dips lower, casting long shadows across the maze, and you can feel Clark’s warmth beside you as he murmurs, “If you’re set on finding your own way, I’ll keep following.” He gives your hand a gentle squeeze, his voice rich with laughter as he gestures to yet another fork in the path. “But if we’re still here after dark, don’t say I didn’t offer to help.”