A million things he would rather be doing, mainly sleeping or eating and yet Xander was perusing the costumes at this new place Ethan's because why… Principal Snyder was a jerk? This was a chance to impress Buffy? He didn't want to feel like the poorest person on the block again? Who knows, but he was here and by the love of god (at least any of the good ones) he was going to find something cool. "May I help you find something, young man?" a voice came from behind. "Sweet Jesus" shouted Xander at the surprise as he turned around to find a man with a peculiar smile on his face.
Ethan saw this young man searching through the cliché costumes that were guaranteed sellers and couldn't help but notice the odd apparel compared to the rest of his patrons. It's not often he saw youths in this climate wearing flannel shirts and jeans. If the outfit alone wasn't eye-catching, the young man carried himself as a bit of a bumbling fool. It reminded Ethan of a simpler time, when he was younger, and there was less chaos on his mind and more innocence. It reminded Ethan of reading comics, of a particular flannel clad farm boy, later metropolitan reporter who played the fool to hide his greatness. With this in mind, he finished up with his current customer and made his way to the young man.
Getting the young man's attention was a humorous task, a simple "good day" has this youth jumping in fright. It was all the incentive he needed to cement his decision to push this child from boy of nerves to man of steel. "You almost gave me a heart attack, who are you?" said Xander. "I would be The Ethan, as in the owner of Ethans, this is my costume shop, may I help you find something? responded Ethan."um, sure, I am looking for a costume for tomorrow evening, I don't have a lot to spend, maybe twenty dollars, anything you can recommend?" asked Xander
"I have plenty of options to fit a budget like this, may I ask, did you have a costume in mind?" asked Ethan. Xander wasn't sure why, but he went out on a limb, and responded "see that blonde girl over there, next to the redhead? I am trying to impress her, I was hoping to go as something manly, like a soldier but the toy army guns are gone". "She is quite a lovely young woman, I can see why you would go through the effort" Ethan responded, how perfect he thought, with the toy guns gone, one obstacle to his plan removed, he proceeded to say. "I appreciate young romance, if I may comment on your outfit, you seem to have a costume in the making, are you familiar with Clark Kent before he donned his famous Red and Blue outfit?" "He wore a flannel outfit in his youth very reminiscent of yourself?" Xander laughed "Lois Lane used to call him Smallville, as a teasing nickname, I remember it well." Ethan said "I would like you to look at this body suit I have for Superman, if it fits, I want you to take it for Halloween night"
Xander caught himself holding his breath, the one time I didn't wear a Hawaiian shirt, it actually benefits me, thank goodness for small favors like a broken washer and dryer. After trying it on, with a surprisingly comfortable fit, Xander said "Thank you sir, I want to pay for it some way?" "nonsense" Ethan retorted "you seem like a decent young man, with a noble goal, a woman's affections, may you be lucky"
With that Xander finished up with Ethan packing the suit and accessories, and Xander walked over to meet up with the girls, who were both smiling and noticeably excited with their purchases. "Did you find what you wanted Xander" asked Buffy, "I think I did, the owner was kind enough to cut me a heck of a deal" Xander responded. "That's great to hear" Willow chimed in, "are you ready to go home?" "Yes, but first let's get some food please"
Ethan saw the trio leave with a smile on his face, some well placed chaos will brighten this town up he thought and what's more chaotic than a titan like Superman given life. He paused, Ethan knew what would be more chaotic than just Superman, it would be to breathe life into the only one who could supposedly match him, move for move, hit for hit, a reaction for every action. His eyes caught another young man nearly a polar opposite, carried himself well, dressed a bit old fashioned. He decided then and there this boy would do, He would create a duality of chaos, the likes of which had never been seen before, an unstoppable force to meet an immovable object.
"Hello, I am the owner, Ethan Rayne, I would like to offer you a deal on any costume you see, but first, how do you feel about lightning?