My Hero (Yellow)
by Hercat
Summary; Part of a series of Halloween episodes. More colours of herodom to come.
Xander glared at Buffy's back as she and Willow cooed over that stupid dress. Why she wanted to dress up for a walking, formerly (and possibly still) psychopathic corpse was beyond him.
If she'd just look his way, really see him for a change, he'd do anything for her. Didn't she understand that? What did he have to do to catch her attention? Maybe this was his chance. He'd get a super cool costume, one that made him look good and she'd…ignore him probably.
How could someone be so damn blind. He smiled at Wills as she brushed her hand down the dress. She'd look pretty good in that dress too, though if he knew his bud, she'd go for the ghost as usual.
He fingered the bills in his pocket. Only five bucks left, but it'd be just enough for a toy gun to go with the fatigues he'd already bought. He swung around to the bargain bin…just in time to see a long-haired chick swipe the last pair of handguns.
"Hey!"
"You snooze you lose Harris. Lara Croft rides again." Cordy smirked and walked off, pistols pointed high.
"Dammit" Xander snapped. There were some swords, but they were kiddy sized - he'd probably look pretty stupid carrying one of those. He could rig something up, but he was short of time, and it would probably look stupid anyways. I just can't catch a break. Deadboy'll be there looking all…deadly, and I'll be a soldier with a dinky plastic sword. I SUCK. He kicked at the discount box and the toys rolled around. He looked more closely, then bent to pick out a battered yellow miner's hat. Wow, this looks like it's been around the block a few times. He lightly fingered the grooves and gouges - probably why it was there, but Xander could tell it was still solid. This…I could do something with this.
He borrowed some of the equipment from George next door, who'd been backstop for two years before she decided boxing was more her style. It was way too small, but that was kind of the idea. The most important part came from Joe, who threw in a couple of apples, which he ate as he juggled his way home.
"Wow, you look amazing Buff."
"Thanks Xan. Ah, good construction worker."
"Actually…"
"Oh, that's sooo cool." Xander grinned at Dawn as she peered at him through the banister posts. "If I'd known, I'd've come as The Bowler."
"I dunno if you've got the balls for that." So, it was a little over the top, Halloween was the time for it.
"Xan-der. Hey, I could always track Dad down and cut off his head." Case in point. He put on his worst English accent.
"Pardon
me miss, are you saying you inserted your father's skull in that
ball for bowling?"
"What? Oh no, no no no. The guy at the
pro shop did it."
Xander sat propped up by the bookcase, fingers worrying at the rim of his helmet. It was like a chunk of someone else's life. His life. It was amazing how much your world could change in a day. Talk about walking a mile in someone else's shoes. Hellooo Hellmouth version.
"Xander" He looked up to see Giles hovering. "You've been very quiet since the end of the spell."
"I…I'm okay."
"I'm sure you are. Would you like to talk about it? This is after all, the second time you've been possessed."
"Buffy just wants to forget. I dunno how much you know about The Shoveler." He looked over at Giles as the librarian sat on one of those wheely step things and shook his head.
"Pop culture superheroes are hardly my forte."
"That's just it G-man, this guy is a superhero, but he not special. I mean he is, but he doesn't have powers or anything, just a shovel." He eyed what was left of that. He probably ought to buy Joe a new one. "He's scared Giles. He knows he could get hurt or killed, but he also knows that he's making things safer for the people he cares about."
"Validation" Giles said.
"Huh?"
"This 'Shoveler' has told you your feelings are acceptable. Perhaps even clarified them for you."
"Yeah, it's already fading though." Giles patted his leg reassuringly.
"Perhaps that's for the best. The human mind isn't designed to hold more than one personality."
"I guess."
"You know Xander, despite the fact I wish you wouldn't risk yourself, I'm proud of you for having the fortitude to do so. I think you might make quite a good Watcher were you so inclined." Giles got up and gripped his shoulder briefly before walking off.
Xander watched him go, then pulled out a crumpled photo that hadn't been there at the start of the night. A family. That's what he'd always wanted, and maybe what he had now. You know, he thought to himself as he replaced it, living on the Hellmouth doesn't always suck.
