บท 16: Chapter 16
The soft glow of dawn crept through the curtains of Misty's guest room, painting the walls in hues of pink and gold. Clark Kent stirred, his superhuman senses already alert to the sounds and smells of the world awakening around him. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted up from the kitchen below, mingling with the scent of magnolias from the garden outside.
As Clark made his way downstairs, the old wooden steps creaking beneath his feet, he couldn't help but smile. Last night had been... nice. After the intensity of their investigation into the Compound V incident with Bill Watkins, he and Misty had stayed up late, trading stories and jokes until exhaustion finally overtook them. It had been a welcome respite from the weight of his responsibilities.
"Morning, sleepyhead," Misty called from the kitchen as Clark entered. She stood at the stove, her auburn hair tied back in a messy ponytail, spatula in hand as she flipped pancakes. "I was beginning to think you'd sleep all day."
Clark chuckled, sliding onto a stool at the kitchen island. "Sorry, I guess I needed the rest more than I realized. Those pancakes smell amazing, by the way."
Misty shot him a grin over her shoulder. "Well, they should. It's my gran's secret recipe. Guaranteed to put some pep in your step, even if you're Superman."
They ate breakfast together, the easy banter of the night before continuing in the warm morning light. For a moment, Clark could almost forget the looming threats of Vought and Compound V. Here, in this cozy kitchen with Misty, he was just Clark Kent, a guy having breakfast with a beautiful woman.
But reality couldn't be held at bay forever. As Clark finished his last bite of pancake, he sighed, his expression turning serious. "I should get going. There's a lot to follow up on after what we discovered yesterday."
Misty's smile faltered for just a moment before she nodded. "Of course. Just... be careful, okay? Whatever Vought's up to, it's big. And dangerous."
Clark stood, moving to the sink to rinse his plate. "I will. And Misty? Thank you. For everything. I needed it."
Their eyes met, and for a heartbeat, something electric passed between them. Clark felt an urge to stay, to explore whatever this thing was between them. But the memory of Bill Watkins and the dangers of Compound V pushed all other thoughts aside.
With a final wave, Clark left, unaware of the longing in Misty's eyes as she watched him go. Internally, Misty thought to herself, 'I love you, Clark Kent...;
As soon as he was out of sight, he took to the air, the familiar rush of flight doing little to calm the turmoil in his mind.
Hours later, Clark found himself in a very different setting. Gone were the pastoral charms of Misty's Georgia home, replaced by the gritty urban landscape of New York City. More specifically, an abandoned warehouse in Brooklyn that served as one of The Boys' many hideouts.
The interior of the warehouse was a stark contrast to its dilapidated exterior. Banks of computers hummed, their screens displaying an array of data and surveillance footage. Maps and documents covered the walls, connected by a web of red string that looked like something out of a conspiracy theorist's fever dream.
"Oi," a gruff voice called out as Clark entered. "Look who's decided to grace us with his presence."
Billy Butcher emerged from the shadows, his perpetual scowl firmly in place. The rest of The Boys followed: Frenchie, looking excited and nervous in equal measure; Mother's Milk, his massive arms crossed over his chest; and Hughie Campbell, still looking somewhat out of place among the hardened vigilantes.
Clark nodded to each of them in turn. "I appreciate you agreeing to meet with me. What I saw yesterday... it's worse than we thought. Vought is ramping up production of Compound V, and they're testing it on civilians."
Butcher's scowl deepened. "Tell us something we don't know, mate. We've been tracking Vought's operations for months. The question is, what are you going to do about it?"
"That's why I'm here," Clark replied, his voice steady. "I want to work with you. Pool our resources, our information. We have a better chance of stopping Vought if we work together."
A tense silence fell over the warehouse. The Boys exchanged glances, a silent conversation passing between them. Finally, it was Hughie who spoke up.
"I think we should do it," he said, his voice gaining strength as he continued. "Superman saved our lives when Homelander attacked us. He's proven he's on our side."
Butcher snorted. "On our side? He's one of them, Hughie. A cape. How do we know this isn't some elaborate setup?"
Clark met Butcher's gaze unflinchingly. "Because unlike Homelander, unlike The Seven, I don't answer to Vought. I'm here because innocent people are being hurt, and someone needs to stop it. Isn't that why you formed this group in the first place?"
Another moment of tense silence passed before Frenchie broke it with a laugh. "Oh, I like him! He has... how you say... cojones."
Mother's Milk nodded slowly. "Man's got a point, Butcher. We could use the firepower."
Butcher's jaw clenched, but even he couldn't deny the logic. "Fine," he spat. "But we do this our way. No holding back, no pulling punches. Vought goes down, whatever it takes."
And there it was, the fundamental difference between them laid bare. Clark shook his head. "I'll work with you, but I won't cross that line. We bring Vought to justice, expose their crimes to the world. But we do it legally."
"Legally?" Butcher laughed, a harsh, bitter sound. "Wake up, sunshine. The law doesn't apply to companies like Vought. The only language they understand is force."
He wasn't wrong, however... "There has to be another way," Clark insisted. "If we stoop to their level, use their tactics, the blood we've shed on the way towards this goal will be somehow forgotten by those victims?"
The argument might have escalated further, but a beeping from one of the computers interrupted them. Frenchie rushed to the screen, his eyes widening as he read the incoming data.
"Mes amis, we have a problem," he announced. "A Vought shipment of Compound V, it's on the move. A very big shipment."
All eyes turned to Clark. The tension in the room was palpable, the alliance already strained before it had truly begun. But as Clark looked at the faces of The Boys, he saw something beyond their hardened exteriors. He saw pain, determination, and a burning desire for justice.
"Alright," Clark said, his decision made. "We'll track the shipment together. But remember, we're doing this to save lives, not take them."
Butcher's lip curled in a mix of disdain and grudging respect. "Whatever helps you sleep at night, big blue. Just don't get in our way when the shit hits the fan."
As The Boys began to gear up for the mission, Clark's mind raced with the implications of this uneasy alliance. He knew he was walking a dangerous line, balancing his principles against the harsh realities of the fight against Vought. But as he thought of Bill Watkins, of Misty's concerned face, of all the innocent lives at stake, he knew he had no choice.
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