"What was the point of all that, Clark? You ripped me away from my engagement to drag me here? Why?" Lana said, through seething teeth, had she known he'd do all of this, she wouldn't have invited him in the first place.
"Because I want you to be happy, Lana." The bravado seemed to vanish as the Clark she knew seemed to return.
"I was happy, but once again you've ruined it all," Lana said, shaking her head.
"Lana, stop kidding yourself," Clark said, stepping closer, "You're never going to be satisfied with Lex, you can't marry him."
"I've already made up my mind, Clark," Side-stepping him, Lana headed towards the stairs.
"Even though you're still in love with me?" Time seemed to freeze as Lana stood still, confusion, anger, resignation passed on her face as she turned back to Clark.
"What makes you think I'm still in love with you?"
Clark seemed to smirk before speaking, "Because I'm still in love with you." Stepping closer, he wrapped his arms around Lana, their eyes meeting.
For a second, Lana returned to before the lies, before the hospital had pronounced Clark dead and he had magically come back. It wasn't uncommon in Smallville for such situations to happen, but he was different ever since. Constantly lying or keeping secrets, never giving her the common decency of truth. There was once a point in time when she thought she would marry Clark. This was how every moment felt in their relationship until it didn't until Clark returned to who he always was, a Liar.
Just as their lips were about to touch, she raised her hand to her face, blocking his in the process. "You don't get to kiss me," Lana stepped back, seeing the confusion and anger on Clark's face. "Did you think I wouldn't recognize this version of you?" Once again, Lana saw the emotion on Clark's face as if he'd been caught. "When you ran away to Metropolis, it's clear you were doing some kind of drugs, Clark. You're back on them?"
An overexaggerated sigh left Clark's mouth as he rolled his eyes, "No, Lana, it's not drugs, this is who I am when I don't have to worry about making sure everyone else is happy. All the lies and the secrets, they don't matter right now." he seemed free as he smiled.
"Then tell me where you were always sneaking off to," Lana said, watching as Clark frowned.
"I'm telling you I love you, and you'd rather hear about that?" Clark asked, tilting his head.
"You see, even when you say that they don't matter, you can't bring yourself to tell me the truth," Lana shook her head, almost laughing. "You don't love me, Clark, you love the idea of me, and you hate the idea of me loving someone else."
Silence filled the barn as the two former lovers looked at each other. "Lana," it was Lex. Lana didn't give Clark a chance as she immediately headed towards the stairs.
"Lex," She called out, drawing his attention. His eyes seemed to light up as she walked down the stairs, almost jumping into his arms.
"Go ahead, Lana, tell him," Clark said as he placed his hands on the bannister, "that you'd rather be with me." A smirk appeared on his face as he looked down at them both.
"He's on some kind of drug, Lex," Lana said, grimacing at Clark.
"It's okay," Lex said, placing Lana behind him. "What do you really expect to happen now, Clark?"
"Exactly what you're afraid of," Clark smiled.
"I'm not a competition, none of this is going to make me go back to you, Clark," Lana spoke up, confused as to how Clark had fallen so far.
"But that's exactly what you are to Lex, didn't you hear? He's always wanted everything I've ever had, and you were at the top of that list," Clark shrugged as he walked down the barn steps with a smile on his face. "To him, you're a trophy, and he's just your consolation prize."
Lana could see the truth in Clark's words; she had witnessed it herself, the family that Lex had grown up with. Who didn't wish for a family like the Kents? She had found herself wishing her parents were alive so that she could experience what Clark had experienced, a supportive, loving family. But had he secretly pined after her all these years? She didn't think so; she'd seen the women in Lex's life, but maybe there was some truth to it.
"Now tell me you don't love me?" Clark said as he stepped off the last step.
She couldn't reply; deep down, she did love Clark. He was everything she had ever wanted; he was kind, noble, and smart. The number of times she had found herself in need of his help was more times than she could count, and he was always there. But her love for Lex was something else; they now shared something that she might have only dreamed of with Clark. Just as she was about to speak, Lex stepped forward.
"You're right, Clark, Lana still loves you. Hell, you might hate me, but sometimes I still think of you as my little brother," Lex smiled before continuing. "I understand how you're feeling, you're angry, you feel alienated from your friends and family, and there's nothing holding you back, but you crossed the line." Whatever friendliness that was in Lex's voice seemed to vanish as he pointed towards Clark's face.
"Oh yeah, and how exactly did I cross the line, Lex?" Clark asked, smirking.
"You dragged my pregnant fiancée away from her engagement party. I don't care about whatever drug you decided to take, but you've put the life of my unborn child in danger, and that's not something you can just walk away from."
"What exactly are you gonna do about it, Lex?" Clark said, tilting his head. "You're playing a game, and you don't even know the rules."
"I don't know, Clark," Lex smiled, "try me," he said as he pulled out a silver pistol, aiming it towards Clark's face.
Before Lana was able to react, Clark had already grabbed the gun and was pushing Lex towards a wall, crashing into wooden posts while doing so.
"Lex!" She called out, running towards them, frowning as the dust cleared, showing Clark holding Lex against the wall by his neck.
"Stay back, Lana," Lex said, stopping Lana in her tracks.
"If I had known what kind of person you were going to turn out to be, I never would have saved you back on that bridge," Clark said through gritted teeth.
"There he is," Lex's voice was hoarse as he spoke through Clark's chokehold. "Clark Kent loses his temper just like the rest of us; you're not better, Clark." Lana watched as Lex fumbled for something next to him, and before she could react, his hand shot up, something flashed silver as it connected with Clark's abdomen. He seemed to tumble over as Lex fell to the ground, catching his breath.
"I'll take over from here," Mrs.Kent had arrived in the barn without Lana noticing. She offered Lana a kind, sad smile, her hands behind her back.
Walking over to Lex, she helped him up, but something caught her eye. The hoe that Lex had used to attack Clark was bent out of shape. Looking at Clark, she realized his abdomen seemed fine even though he was obviously in pain. She quickly picked up the Hoe as she helped Lex out of the barn.
"I'm sorry this happened, Lana," Lex said, offering her a hug as they entered his car.
Lana said nothing, simply offering his hand a quick squeeze before her hand shot into her purse. It was completely malformed down to the handle. She kept thinking back to Clark's words about Lex playing a game he didn't even know the rules to. Was Clark affected by the meteor shower?