-Chapter Eleven-

Metallo

Buffy couldn't help but laugh as she watched Clark do his new disguise Clark as he paid for coffee. She sat at the table watching as he accidently and clumsily hit people with his briefcase as he tried to balance two cups of coffee. "Sorry," he said awkwardly slumping down into the seat, his briefcase flipping open the contents falling out. "S-sorry."

"I swear, this isn't an act," Buffy said playfully as she helped him sort out his briefcase.

"I'm still getting used to the big city," Clark said giving a weak smile.

"You know you did live here for three months," Buffy said knowingly, remembering their time in Metropolis, mainly Clark's whom had stayed for another month. She always was the mature one.

"Yeah but that was years ago," Clark said taking a sip of his coffee, "still," he added looking up at the towering skyscrapers, "I'm starting to get used to it."

"I suppose flying through the city can do that to you," Buffy whispered softly, "you seem to be keeping busy though," she pointed to the front page of the Daily Planet, "I read your sex scandal story before I came here."

"And?" Clark asked hopefully, not many people had told him about his writing, Perry had told him numerous times over the passed week but no one else had told him, even Chloe, she'd flown off to Frane this morning to cover the European Union Conference.

"It was good, lots of big words," Buffy said pouting a little, "hurt my head."

"You know, that dumb blond routine doesn't work on me," Clark replied rolling his eyes, "I know you too well."

"Well sometimes I'm dumb sometimes I'm smart," Buffy shrugged leaning forward, "we all have a dual identities."

Clark smiled softly.

"So what you gonna do about this Corden guy?" Buffy asked.

"Corben," Clark corrected, "and I'm not sure. Apparently, he was the guy who killed Lionel Luthor, but everyone at the Planet is just as confused as I am about his sudden strength, he was just a normal guy a few months back. His doctors said he had three months to live due to the shrapnel in his heart."

"That explains the kryptonite transplant," Buffy replied curiously, "I'm kind of getting a huge Adam vibe about this guy."

"Me too," Clark said knowingly, "and we know who was behind that."

"Lex," Buffy nodded. "You'll need my help against this robo-jerk."

"No," Clark said abruptly.

"He's got kryptonite," Buffy hissed to him, "he could kill you."

"I know," Clark said softly lowering his head and voice so no one could hear him, "but..." he sighed realising this wasn't much of an argument but it was the truth, "this fight will probably be covered by news teams."

"Aren't you bigheaded?" Buffy teased.

"It true though, everyone wants a picture of me and if I'm fighting someone who matches me with strength they'll want it covered," Clark said seriously, "Perry's already got me on this story."

"Yeah, so what's your point?" Buffy asked confused.

"The whole newsroom saw you with me," Clark said notably, "if you start fighting alongside Superman, people will talk and put two and two together and realise that I'm..."

"Not just a mild-mannered reporter," Buffy nodded understandably, "Clark, I know you wanna keep your secret but..."

"I know," Clark said taking her hand, "don't worry... I've got a plan."

"That's a first," Buffy said surprised, "are you sure you're Clark Kent?"

"Only half the time," Clark said cheekily. "Is Willow coming back for you or are you..."

"Are you asking me to stay over?" Buffy asked a little shocked.

"W-well if you want to, I mean, you don't have to," Clark stammered his face growing redder as Buffy sat their smiling at him.

"I'd love to," she said, "but I have to get back, you're not the only one with an early start."

"How are you getting back?" Clark asked.

"One of the girls will teleport me," Buffy said a matter-a-factly.

"Isn't Willow coming for you?" Clark asked confused.

"No," Buffy said irritably glaring at her coffee, "she's gone AWOL again. She keeps doing it every so often. I don't know where, none of us do. She keeps being all mystery-woman about it."

"Maybe she's working with the other Slayers? Or the Coven?" Clark said thoughtfully.

"Maybe," Buffy said taking Clark's hand, "be careful with this guy. Please," she begged.

"I will," Clark said softly.

His name was Metallo. John Corben was dead. What he thought he was, was a lie. The people who saw him, who cowered when they saw his face; this was the truth. This was who he was now, a monster, a mechanical terror. And he was going to have his revenge. It didn't take long to find him, his new mechanical joints had made him able to take large leaps through the air.

With smack he had landed exploding through the window of his destination. He smiled evilly at the board room, looking around at the board members all of which look on in horror as he glowers at them with his green eyes. Both of which move to one man, the man who did this to him, the man whom had real cause to fear him.

Lex Luthor.

"Hello, Lex," Metallo cackled walking over to him and lifting him up from his seat and over his head, "I'm in need of some service and you're coming to help me."

Lex glared at Metallo trying to mask his fear, although his fear was outweighed by his sheer anger at being held like this. Like a rag doll. He truly hated these super-powered beings.

"So how'd you meet her?" Jimmy asked excitedly once Clark returned to the newsroom, in fact it wasn't just Jimmy who was asking, every guy with a pulse was asking Clark the same questions.

"I've known her for years," Clark said to Jimmy, "we've just started dating."

The male workers fanned away uninterested as Clark retreated to his office making it obvious he wasn't going to say anything else. "I don't get it, Mr Kent," Jimmy said leaning against his desk, "I mean how do you do it? I mean your GF is a total babe."

"Thanks Jim," Clark chuckled, "but I didn't do anything. I just was myself."

"Well, I mean, no offence but, your kind of weird," Jimmy said apologetically, "but a good weird, I mean I like you, but I don't know. Do girl's go for that?"

Clark sighed turning to Jimmy. "Look, Jim," Clark said seriously still keeping his higher-toned Metropolis Kent voice, "I know I kind of come off as a little shy..."

"A little?" Lois called leaning against Clark's cubicle, "you make Woody Allen look like a sex god."

"Yes, well," Clark glared at her, "as I was trying to say. Just because I'm shy doesn't mean I'm shy around most people, I'm just getting used to this place and like I told you it's overwhelming. I guess what I'm saying is girl's go for whoever they're comfortable with."

"Nice one, Smallville," Lois said glancing at confused Jimmy, "confuse the kid even more."

"So, what's your advice?" Clark replied, "take her to a motorcar derby?"

"No," Lois replied, "just be assertive, you want something go for it. That's how I like my men," she added glancing at Clark, turning and walking away.

"She likes you," Jimmy said to him as though like a whisper.

"Yeah, we've been friends for years," Clark said obviously, "not best friends but..."

"No, I mean, she likes you," Jimmy said stressing it to Clark so that the penny would drop.

"What?" Clark laughed loudly unable to believe what he was saying, "Lois? No, trust me Lois..."

"Mr. Kent, it's so obvious," Jimmy exclaimed incredulously.

"Jimmy, I'd be flattered if it were true but me and Lois... we're too different," Clark stuttered, "so let's just drop it."

"Whatever you say, CK," Jimmy shrugged.

"CK?" Clark asked raising an eyebrow.

"I can't keep calling you Mr. Kent, if we're going to be friends," Jimmy shrugged.

"We're friends?" Clark replied a little taken aback.

"Sure, us newbies have to stick together," Jimmy said smiling and walking away. Clark smiled laughing inwardly, he glanced over at Lois curiously. Was Jimmy right? Did she like him? Didn't matter, he was with Buffy. He loved Buffy.

"This is WGBS-TV with an urgent news bulletin," called a reporter on the television stood outside LexCorp, "we are at LexCorp plaza where Lex Luthor CEO of LexCorp is being held hostage by the new metallic John Corben now calling himself Metallo."

The camera zoomed up to the top of LexCorp plaza to see two figures, one being Metallo holding another, Lex Luthor out of the top most window. Clark's eyes widened as he saw this. He wanted nothing more than to let Lex fall, knowing he had a hand in this, but he couldn't. He got to his feet moving past the reporters and taking the stairs to the roof.

"I can't feel anything," Metallo spat angrily, "you said there would be adjustments. I want them. I want to be back the way I was."

"What do you care if you can't feel?" Lex growled angrily as Metallo holding over a great drop, "you're practically immortal you could live forever."

"What's the point if you can't feel the touch of a good woman or taste anything?" Metallo cried furiously, "you've turned me into a monster."

"I've turned you into the next step of human advancements," Lex snarled, "science is a working progress. Yes, you can't feel now, but in a year, two or five, you'll be as human as the rest of us only much more advanced. You'll be the next step in human evolution. A convergence of technological and human power."

"Are you trying to trick me?" Metallo growled pulling him close so that they were face to face.

"Of course not I give you my word," Lex gasped as Metallo gripped his neck tightly, "I've always been good to you John, please, I want to help you."

Metallo looked Lex over closely weighing the situation. "I kill Superman," Metallo said a thought crawling through his head, "and you get me these adjustments."

"Deal," Lex gasped.

"Good," Metallo said smiling at Lex cruelly, "I don't know about you, but I really hope he catches you."

"What?" Lex cried, Metallo grip loosening from his neck as Metallo let him go. Lex dropped from his office screaming in terror as he flailed and swiped at the air as he fell. The people below screamed in horror from below as city's industrial elite plummeted down fifty feet. Lex flailed in horror as he saw the ground coming closer by twenty feet.

Suddenly a pair of hands grabbed him around the waist swooping him up in the air. Lex looked up to Superman holding him from behind. He flew away dropping him down a building adjacent from LexCorp. "Don't think this changes anything," Lex snarled as Superman let him go.

"Oh don't worry it doesn't," Superman snarled angrily. "I know what you did to that man. And I'm going to make sure you pay."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Lex said with outrage, "I am a victim of this man as much as anyone else. He stole my father and now is after me," Lex looked up smiling smugly, "oh and I'd move if I was you."

"What are you..."

BOOM! Superman crashed through the roof of the building as Metallo dropped down from the sky slamming down into him. The Man of Steel felt himself crash through the many ceiling and floors until finally he hit the ground floor of the building.

He got to his feet shakily his head spinning. Metallo dropping on him had really took it out of him, but the source of his pain was not that, but the green glow that had filled the room as Metallo dropped down beside him. "You know you really are quite predictable," Metallo sneered, "like a moth to the flame. I almost thought you'd let Luthor drop after all with him gone Metropolis would be free."

"It did cross my mind," Superman groaned getting to his feet and punching at Metallo causing him to stumble. He reached in the back of his belt pulling out a small piece of lead. He held it up pushing against Metallo's chest pushing him down to the ground. He punched hard at the Metallo knocking him down to the ground shooting a blast of heat vision at Metallo's chest burning the piece of lead on the top of his chest.

Metallo punched at Superman before he could weld the rest of the lead sending him flying across the room. Superman got to his feet glaring at Metallo as he did. The kryptonite wasn't effecting him yet it still had its potent glow seeping through the bottom of the lead. He may be able to win this if the lead holds up.

"You think this will stop me," Metallo said smugly looking down at the piece of lead, "nothing can stop me," he growled viciously.

"I think I'll give it a try," Superman said stubbornly zooming at Metallo punching him in the face causing him to stumble backwards. Metallo looked back at Superman, his eyes widening as Supes uppercut him square in the jaw sending him rocketing in the air crashing through the ceiling and into the air. Supes kicked off from the air following him as Metallo soared through the air towards the docks.

A massive explosion occurred as Metallo crashed into a huge crane, the crane collapsing beneath itself crashing to the ground. Supes dropped to the ground looking at the wreckage. He was glad no one had been inside the crane at the time. The docks was deserted. Good, it would make this fight a lot easier. He stepped forward. A green glow shooting from the rumble hitting Superman square in the chest sending him flying across the docks slamming into a crate falling to the ground. Supes looked up from his knees weakly to see a fully metallic Metallo, no lead shielding around the kryptonite. The Man of Steel looked on his eyes wide as Metallo smirked moving forward.

"You know that actually tickled," Metallo sneered walking towards Superman, a green glow emitting from his chest as the Kryptonite came in close proximity to Superman. Superman got to his feet quick as an excruciating pain filled his entire body. Metallo lunged at Superman grabbing him by the throat lifting his limp body up. "You think you could beat me. I have your weakness in the palm of my hand. I am the only one how can bring you to your knees!"

"Is this what you want?" Supes croaked, "or is it what Luthor wants?"

"Oh, I want this," Metallo sneered gripping Superman's throat tighter, "Luthor? He's yesterday's news. Once he's out of the way I'll run Metropolis... I mean who around here can stop me."

"Me," came a cold voice, familiar only to Supes and it was good to hear it. Metallo turned to see Buffy Summers heave a long red Axe with a stake at the other end. Metallo cried in agony as the blade sliced through his metallic arm chopping it in half. He stumbled backwards holding his arm in some form of pain. He glared a Buffy as she swung her axe at him before he could react impaling his chest.

"Nice axe," Metallo sneered, "but it looks like it didn't go all the way through," he noted the axe stuck in his chest.

"I wasn't planning for that," Buffy smirked looking at Metallo's chest. Metallo looked down mockingly at the axe only to see where the axe had penetrated. The wires holding his kryptonite heart together snapping away from the axe hanging by only one wire. Metallo looked at his kryptonite heart his eyes wide with shock as it hung limp out of its chamber. Buffy smirked at him coolly," this. Is mine."

She grabbed the piece of kryptonite yanking it from the last wire, Metallo crying out to stop her moving forward but stopping in his tracks as Buffy ripped out the kryptonite, his whole body stiffening and jerking as his whole body shut down. His face contracted with wild aggression as he tried to stay alive, he reached out for Buffy trying to grab the Kryptonite from her, crashing to the ground with thud his green eyes turning black and his empty mouth staying open with one last wheezy gasp.

Buffy sighed throwing the kryptonite thirty feet into deep waters of the ocean leading out of the docks. She lifted up Metallo pulling the Slayer Axe from its chest running over to Clark bending down to check on him as he tried to get up.

"Are you..."

"Yeah, I'm fine," Clark groan trying to push himself up, "I will be."

"Here let me..." Buffy began lifting Superman's shirt to see any of his injuries. Clark takes her hand stopping her.

"I'm fine," he said softly. He sighed breathing in, "my powers are coming back now. I'll be fine. Just help me up, please."

Buffy nodded grabbing Clark's arm and throwing it over her shoulder. "Nice axe," Clark said jokily, "new?"

"Kind of," Buffy said looking at him closely. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yes," Clark groaned impatiently.

"Are you sure about that?" cackled the mechanical voice of Metallo as he regained consciousness standing up straight, one arm chopped off and a gaping slash across his chest. He looked himself over. Clark and Buffy looking at him wide-eyed. He truly was indestructible. "Back-up power source. Have to hand it to Lex, he thinks of everything. Doubt it will last long, still. Should last long enough for me to get some Kryptonite."

"You seem a little weakened," Clark goaded smiling weakly, "you sure the backup power will be enough."

"It'll be enough for you!" Metallo snarled leaping at Clark. It was now or never. Clark could feel his powers returning. He looked at Metallo with fierce determination, knowing he had to make his move while he was open.

Superman pushed Buffy aside, knocking her away from harm's way as Metallo flew towards them. The Man of Steel stepped back pulling his arm back, clenching his fist, his muscles bulging as he built up all his strength into one arm, swinging at Metallo, delivering an earth shattering punch to the face. The force of the punch was so powerful that it sent Metallo flying out fifty feet in the air soaring a hundred miles into nothingness until finally he was gone, disappearing in the depths of the ocean.

Clark turned as Buffy got to her feet rubbing her shoulder irritably. "What part of stay away didn't you understand?" Clark said angrily glaring at Buffy.

"What part of 'be careful' didn't you understand?" Buffy snapped returning an equally glaring glare. They stood glaring for a moment. Suddenly pulling each other into a kiss.

"Thanks," Clark said softly smiling at her warmly.

"No problem," Buffy replied.

Clark looked over as police sirens echoed from afar coming closer. "You better go," he said urgently.

"And let you get all the credit?" Buffy said raising a teasing eyebrow at him. Clark gave her a serious look which made her pout a little pulling out an amulet, "oh boo. You owe me Krypto-boy."

With a flash of light Buffy disappeared as police sirens screeched to a stop. Lois ran out to Superman looking at him with concern. "Are you alright?" She asked worriedly. "Where's Corben?"

"I'm fine," Superman said warmly, "Corben," he said softly sighing as he looked out into the sea. "Went for a swim."