Clark is driving back after finally doing his shopping. He is thinking about Buffy's friends. Buffy had told him about them and from her description they seemed nice. He hoped they would overlook the alien thing and just see the real him. Giles had looked at him like a father who had caught his daughter in bed at first. He had looked embarrassed, Clark could sympathise. The only thing close to this morning was when his parents caught him and Lois in the bathroom. God that woman is embarrassing not to mention she used all the hot water and stole his favourite shirt. He still hasn't got that back yet. Faith had looked at him, well like the way Buffy has been looking at him. Great another love triangle, that's all he needs. As for Xander, he had to admit he had a hard time reading Xander so he didn't know what he thought. Of course that brings us to Willow. She had looked queasy and to be honest she made him uncomfortable as well. He hates magic. Clark didn't doubt Buffy that Willow was nice but after what Isobel did to him he was just uncomfortable around something that could hurt him. He arrives back at the farm, picks up the shopping and walks in only to find himself staring at 2 Buffys. What the hell?
As Clark walks in they all turn. The First/Buffy speaks "Well, the Last Son of Krypton. Do you know Kal-EL that you look just like your father?"
Buffy gets up and puts her arm around Clark. Clark looks at her "Buffy is this?"
Buffy nods. Clark looks at the First "How do you know my father?"
The First smirks "I know all. I live in all things. I am the dark desires that plague men's souls. Even yours Kal-El."
"You don't know anything about me," Clark retorts.
"Don't I?" The First morphs from Buffy into Kal. The First/Kal stares into Clark's eyes. "I think I know you very well."
Buffy feels Clark tense up. Clark stares at what might as well be his reflection. The arrogance, the swagger, the smug look of superiority. All the things that haunt him every time he reflects on his time under the influence of red kryptonite.
The First/Kal walks up to Faith. "To answer your question, yes there is enough of me to share and you know I prefer brunettes to blonds."
Next up is Xander "How's the eye? The one that sees everything, what a joke. You're not even worth the effort of me killing you."
Finally The First/Kal address both Giles and Willow "As for you two, yes I am that powerful witch." The word 'witch' said with distain. "And yes Rupert you should destroy me while you can because I am that dangerous."
For an encore The First/Kal walks up to Buffy. "Do you like me as much now? This is the real me you know, not this simpering idiot." It gestures at Clark. "You know I think I'll keep you around after I conquer the world. After all an Emperor needs an heir. Of course I could always offer that role to Faith here or Chloe, heck even Lois at a push."
Clark is getting more uncomfortable by the second. "Oh come on Clark, we both know the thought has crossed your mind after all Lois does have lovely legs; remember that day you walked in on her in the shower, not a blemish on her lovely, smooth, silky skin. I know you've dreamt about it."
It is now Buffy getting uncomfortable at these images. Her temper rising. The First/Kal smirks seeing it has hit a nerve. It walks over to the window and looks out. "Enjoy the rest of your day, because you know I created the night." It then disappears from sight.
Xander speaks first "Well that was different."
They're all looking at Clark. Buffy speaks up "What?"
"You know what B," Faith replies.
Giles is next "The First can only imitate someone who is dead."
Clark answers for Buffy "I've been dead, twice actually."
Willow cuts in "Ok while we will want to know about that, there is the fact that didn't seem quite like you."
"He, it is a part of me. It's my selfish side, brought out, made real. Lets just say I've done things I'm not proud of." Clark then proceeds to retell his red kryptonite rampage through Metropolis. He decided his annulled marriage to Alicia and his Valentines' day exploits with Lois were best left out.
Giles contemplates Clark as he talks. Giles can see the guilt virtually pouring out. Buffy's right, Clark is a good guy. When Clark's father had confronted him, Clark had destroyed the ring rather than kill. "Clark, while your actions were obviously selfish, you never resorted to killing." Giles is surprised when Clark winces. "Have you?"
Clark looks down at the floor "Did Buffy mention the escaped criminals from the Phantom Zone?" he asks and Giles nods in reponse. "It was my fault they escaped, and I vowed to hunt them down. I found one, Titan he was called, in an underground fight club for those of the super powered persuasion. He was a genetically engineered soldier, he lived only to fight and kill and he almost killed me."
"But you killed him first," Faith finishes for Clark.
Clark nods sadly. Buffy takes Clark's hand "That's self defence Clark," she tells him trying to make him feel better. His guilt over it all too obvious to see.
Clark looks at Buffy. "It's not that. It's just while I was beating him, for a second, I actually enjoyed inflicting pain on him. I don't believe in hurting or killing yet for a second I got enjoyment out of doing just that."
Giles then speaks out. "Clark you are a good person. Bad people don't feel guilt or remorse or sorrow the way you do." Giles is now definitely convinced Clark's a good person, after all he was feeling remorse for stopping basically a killing machine.
Xander breaks the solemn mood "Hey Clark, what did you get to eat?"
After breakfast Buffy finds Clark up in the loft. "Clark, you ok?"
Clark doesn't look round. "You don't think less of me do you because of what I did to Titan?" he asks afraid she might think just that.
Buffy shakes her head in annoyance at his stupidity. "Clark do you know how many vampires or demons I have had to destroy. So many that I lost count years ago. Now does that make you think less of me?"
Clark turns around and looks at Buffy "No, you're a beautiful person."
"Well then the answer is the same for me. Clark you stopped basically a killing machine. If you hadn't stopped it innocent people would have died."
"Innocent people had already died before I found him. He escaped because of me." Clark winces at that memory. If only he had listened to Jor-El he wouldn't have ended up in the Phantom Zone in the first place and the prisoners wouldn't have escaped at the same time he did.
Buffy is getting slightly irritated at Clark. "Ok Clark, we're going round in circles. You can only be responsible for your own actions."
Clark smiles. "You sound like Chloe."
"Good, I knew she was smart." She then walks up and kisses him.
After breakfast Willow had decided to speak to Clark. She had definitely misjudged him. Not entirely her fault, he did make her slightly queasy and by the looks he gave her over breakfast, she did the same to him. She needed to ask him about his powers. It was odd, they felt like magic but obviously weren't, him being an alien and all. She walks into the barn to find Buffy and Clark kissing. "Oh, your busy I'll come back."
They separate and Buffy speaks "It's ok Will, what is it?"
"I would like to speak to Clark if I could," Willow asks noticing Clark flinch.
Buffy saw how uncomfortable both Clark and Willow were around each other and decides they need to talk alone. "I'll go check on the others and leave you two to clear things up." She gives Clark a quick peck on the cheek and leaves.
Clark had been dreading this conversation but protecting his secrets was driving a wedge between Buffy and her friends. He had felt the tension over breakfast.
"How do your powers work?" Willow enquires. "Because it feels like magic but somehow isn't quite the same."
Clark looks out and up at the fiery ball that gives him strength. "The Sun. My body absorbs it's energy and stores it like a battery."
Willow thinks about that. Her powers came from the electromagnetic energy of the earth, his came from the electromagnetic energy of the sun, so it would make sense they would feel similar. She looks at him. He still looks uncomfortable. "What is it about me you don't like?"
Clark looks at her. He didn't not like her. He needs to explain. "It's nothing personal. A few years ago some witches, bad ones, came here and they tried to steal something that belonged to me. It made a bad first impression of witch kind."
Ok, Willow thinks, that's not the best first impression but she could just sense there was more to the story. "There's more to it than that isn't there."
Ok Clark, truth time, remember your doing this for Buffy. "It may surprise you to know, that with all my power I was barely able to stop them. They stripped me of my powers and made me mortal. Thankfully the object they were trying to steal restored them."
That's refreshingly honest Willow thinks. "If we're sharing truths you should know I also did some bad things"
"I know. You tried to destroy the world. Buffy told me."
"Wow, you do have an open and honest relationship. Why aren't you mad at me or something?"
"Buffy told me what happened to you, with Tara. I understand that kind of loss, a woman I loved died not too long ago. It doesn't mean I think the way you reacted was the best but equally considering some of the things I've done I'm probably not qualified to judge you either. You see before she died, this woman married someone else, that hurt a lot. That's why I was at that fight club. I was trying to numb the pain."
Willow certainly understood the pain of loss, but watching someone you love marry someone else. She wondered what was worst because either way the person is beyond your reach. They stand in silence both feeling that perhaps they're a little closer to understanding each other.
Buffy walks back in the house and finds Xander and Faith watching TV and Giles looking like he could use a book to read. Xander looks up "Where's Clark and Will?"
"I left them to resolve their issues," Buffy informs him.
"Issues?" Xander asks.
"Clark had a bad experience with witches and Willow, lets face it, has looked nauseous around Clark. I'm sure once they talk though it'll be fine."
"We should talk about the First," Giles says looking for a distraction from the TV.
"Yeah," Faith adds joining in. "What did it mean when it had everything to do with destroying Clark's home?"
"Not sure," Buffy responds. "Clark said it was destroyed by a global civil war and we all know the First exists to create chaos and destruction."
"It's possibly used its ability to manipulate those with darkness in their hearts to initiate the war," Giles theorises. This really bothers him. He knew in theory the First's power was virtually limitless but had it actually managed to destroy an entire civilisation?
Xander listens to this, surprised at himself how well he's taking it all. He had met an alien, a real one with super powers. Andrew would be so jealous. He had also taken the news about Caleb well he thought. The guy who took his eye. How would they deal with him now? According to Buffy he was more powerful than before but Clark had saved her. Is he really that strong? Well, Will did say he had Glory like power. He looks at Buffy and notes her injuries must have healed since he can't see any. Wait, Chloe said she was attacked a few days ago now. Why didn't she call? He then proceeds to ask her. "Buffy you were attacked days ago, why didn't you call?"
Buffy looks at Xander. Oops. She forgot about that. "Well the first night I was unconscious, you know, from the beating and I've been busy."
"Busy doing what B?" Faith asks with a smirk on her face. She already knows the answer but she isn't missing such an obvious opening to make Buffy uncomfortable.
Buffy blushes. Oh god she's actually blushing again. Clark Kent better be glad that she loves him. Giles sees Buffy blushing, a very rare thing. Not wanting more images in his mind like catching her on the couch this morning he refocuses on the current problem. "Well moving on. Buffy you said Caleb's here, what about Bringers?"
"I've only seen a couple," Buffy replies.
"There's more than a couple," Willow states as she walks in with Clark behind. "We, well Clark, saw some from the barn."
Clark elaborates. "They're gathering on the edge of the farm. Looks like they're preparing to attack."
"How many?" Buffy asks and is worried by the shadow that appears on Clark's face as he grimly answers "Several dozen."
Buffy walks up to Clark taking his hands in hers tries to reassure him "They can't hurt you."
"I know but with so many I can't protect you," Clark replies, worry etched on his face.
"Why don't you go and get them now?" Faith asks.
Willow replies to that one. "They're protected by a magical barrier, one even Clark can't break through. I can sense it from here."
Giles remembering the First said that they were to enjoy the day realises they have until sunset. Not enough time for reinforcements, but with Clark's help all they needed to do was to stay alive long enough for him to work his way through the Bringers. From what Buffy had said he was certainly more powerful than Caleb. The First, all knowing as it is, must have a way to neutralise Clark otherwise it wouldn't even attempt this. However, they had little time to prepare, they would just have to deal with it the best they could. Giles speaks up "Xander, get the weapons from the car. They'll probably attack after sunset. We have to prepare the best we can."
With someone who could move at superspeed, boarding up the house hadn't taken long. As the sun began to set Buffy finds Clark in the barn once again. She walks up behind him and wraps her arms around him. "Clark, I know how you feel about killing but..." she leaves it hanging.
"I understand Buffy. I was thinking from here I could hit them with blasts of heat vision, won't stop them all.."
"But will thin their numbers a bit," Buffy finishes for him.
Clark turns looking Buffy in the eye. "I couldn't bare to lose you. I love you as much if not more than anyone in my life. When we're together I don't fell alone."
"Clark, I love you too. You bring light, illuminating by otherwise dark world. You shine like the sun."
Clark smiles "That's what I think about you. You shine brighter than the sun that gives me my strength."
Buffy truly wonders if Clark is her soul mate. They have so much in common. Lone warriors trying to find where they belong in this world. From the moment she first saw him there has been an undeniable attraction. Like 2 suns pulled towards each other by gravity. Clark looks at Buffy thinking similar things. In only a few days she has so consumed him, he can no longer see a future without her. They kiss passionately, their lonely souls trying desperately to be united as one.
Willow, Faith, Xander and Giles are in the house waiting for the sun to set. Xander is looking out for Buffy to return. "So do you think it will last this time, you know Buffy and Clark?"
Willow replies "I hope so. He makes her happy. When they're together she looks at peace. We all know that is all she really wants."
"And if it doesn't work out I'm more than able to take her place," Faith says confidently. All 3 look at Faith. "Oh please, even Xander thinks he's hot."
Willow and Giles look at Xander. He looks back at them decidedly uncomfortable. "What I said was he's better than either Spike or Angel. Unlike them at least he's alive."
By this time the sun has set and Buffy walks in "They're coming," she informs them and then notices the guilty looks on their faces, well except Faith's. "Have you been discussing my love life again?"
Before anyone answers there is the sound of an explosion that Buffy knows must be Clark. The battle has begun.
As soon as the sun set the Bringers starting charging towards the house. As soon as they left the protection of the barrier they erected, Clark started shooting balls of heat energy. They exploded among the ranks of the Bringers. Clark reckoned he got half of them by the time they reached the house. He turns around and is about to superspeed in to the house when he comes face to face with Caleb.
"Well the Last Son of Krypton battling the Followers of the First Evil. The Last and The First in balance against each other. I'm always a big fan of balance especially since for my resurrection to hold I will have to exchange your girlfriend's life. I don't have to explain this to you though do I. After all you came back from the dead and all it cost you was the life of your father."
At the mention of his father Clark speeds forward grabbing Caleb around the throat. As soon as he has though he feels the familiar sickness that accompanies Kryptonite exposure. Caleb takes his hands from behind his back and in his right one is the glowing green rock that haunts Clark's dreams. Caleb hits him in the face with the rock and Clark falls from the loft onto the barn floor. Caleb walks down the stairs to find Clark struggling to his feet. "Tell me, is it irony or poetic justice that one as powerful as you can be brought to his knees by a little rock?"
Even if Clark could think coherently through the pain, he wouldn't answer. How could one choose to serve such evil, he would never understand.
Caleb kicks Clark in the ribs. Clark winded, rolls onto his back. Caleb places the rock on Clark's chest. The sound of Bringers crashing into the house catches his attention. "Now don't go anywhere. I just need to get your friends and I'll be right back." Caleb walks out of the barn. The First/Buffy is there. "Remember I need them alive," it tells him.
Caleb walks past it. "Now I wouldn't go forgetting that now would I? Making the one who resurrected me mad would not be wise."
Caleb enters the house unable to shake the feeling he's the one being used for a change but what can he do? His deity brought him back from the dead and could send him back there just as easily. He would do as his god demanded but somehow, somewhere he is going to get vengeance on that girl that killed him.
All 5 of the gang in the house watched in awe as Clark halved the number of Bringers. They were soon trying to break in. All too soon the wood splintered, the door fell in and the battle began. Boarding up the windows had meant the Bringers at least for the moment were coming through the narrow doorway. Buffy and Faith are easily able to block it and are holding back the Bringers. However, what is bothering Buffy is the fact Clark hasn't come back to the house like they had planned. Faith and Buffy are up to about a dozen Bringers when they suddenly stop attacking. All 5 are thinking that there's no way it's this easy and sure enough a few seconds later Caleb walks in the door. "Well now Cain and Able together again."
"Enough bible metaphors, where's Clark?" Buffy demands.
"Oh don't worry about him, you'll be joining him soon enough. It's interesting to note though how one so powerful can be beaten by a little green rock."
Green rock! Oh god, please don't be dead Clark is Buffy's only thought as she and Faith attack Caleb.
While Caleb enjoyed his new stronger form it was coming at the price of an extremely short life expectancy. If he didn't take someone else's life-force within a couple of days he would literally crumble to dust. Of course his first choice had been that wretched girl that killed him but now he was merely to capture her. Why? There was what his god had told him and whereas before he obeyed without question, his god's obsession with that boy, no matter how powerful he was, disturbed him. The two Slayers attack him, he catches the swords in his hands, sure they cut his skin but it's was a minor discomfort. He twists them out of their hands and throws them into the living area where the other 3 minor annoyances were. He watches with some glee as they dive out of the way of the flying swords. The Slayers attack him again. He blocks their blows and punches them both. Faith goes through the wall to the side. He would get back to her in a moment. Buffy had gone straight back. He moves over before she gets back up, grabs her hair and punches her in just the right place on her skull to knock her out. At this point Faith jumps on his back, he reaches back and flips her over his head. She lands on the floor in front of him giving him the opening he needs to hit her in the correct place on her skull. He sees her eyes roll as she too slips into unconsciousness.
Caleb now turns his attention to the other 3. The Watcher and the boy are no threat. The witch however was powerful but he knew a few spells himself, ancient ones long forgotten by man or woman. He chants one. Willow screams in pain as Caleb turns her own power against her and she collapses in a heap. The Watcher and the boy are easily subdued. Caleb signals for his Bringers to restrain them and to carry them out. Caleb walks out of the house wondering why his god had not given him this power last time. His god is standing there back in the form of that girl. He walks over to the barn to retrieve Kal-El and is reminding himself as he goes, it is not his place to question.
