Clark, despite all his many virtues and pure heartedness, always had a small envy for humans. Perhaps it was the fact he was a Kryptonian surrounded in a human society, always just a bit different no matter what he did to fit in. But he could accept that, be content that just because he's different didn't mean he was worth any less. He didn't have to be a human to enjoy living with humans, obviously!

Yet there was one concept he, embarrassingly enough, always longed for when it came to humans and the complex relationships between them. Soulmates. To his knowledge, Krypton never had such a thing- so he was incapable of such a thing as well. But how could he not marvel at something so cosmic, so romantic and pure? So maybe he enjoyed it just a bit too much when he listened to his friends' stories on meeting their soulmates, the different types of soulmates, etc. Diana saw color for the first time when she locked eyes on hers, Barry had a timer counting down his first meeting with his soulmate, and even Bruce apparently had a small red string leading to his!

So yes, Clark always wanted a soulmate, something he found unachievable. Until the day Bruce, the brilliant detective he is, somehow found out Clark does have a soulmate. Clark couldn't believe it- how was that possible? Not only was he not a human, but he never got a timer, red string, or any other sign of a soulmate. He didn't understand until Bruce kindly brought Clark's soulmate in to meet him.

One look and he knew- he was made for you, and vice versa. But at the same time, you didn't look very pleased to see him. His face dropped once you explained, you shared pain. Of course Clark didn't realize- he never felt you in extreme pain. With his level of pain tolerance, even the toughest cramps you must have had felt like mere tickles to him. But you... you must have felt everything he ever received, every fight and near death experience. You, just a human, experienced the same indescribable and constant pain as the Man of Steel.

"I... I had no clue." Was all Clark could muster out in the moment, the guilt crashing over him in a giant wave that could easily drown a man. Without thinking, he pulled you into a hug, cradling you into his chest as tears pricked at his eyes. He was putting the person he was fated for through inexplainable pain, every single day without even knowing. In the million fake scenarios he thought of when entertaining the idea of having a soulmate- this was never one of them.