BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER (YET ANOTHER HALLOWEEN FIC)

A/N - Yes I know that's a lot of these kind of fan fictions on the internet already, but I thought that I might like to take a crack at it too! SO I'M JUMPING ON THE BANDWAGON BABY! ROFL

A/N 2 – I would like to credit the author Cyclone for his two fan fiction crossovers of BTVS and Captain America. It was these two fan fictions plus the impending release of a Captain America movie (2011) that inspired me to write this.

A/N 3 – Cyclone's fan fictions are quite good and I would recommend anyone who is a fan of BTVS or Captain America to read Shield first and then the sequel Red, White and Blue.

CHAPER ONE – GETTING A COSTUME

Damn, that troll Snyder! HE must not have anything better to do than to make mine, the Buffster's and Wills' lives a living hell. And since we're already living upon a damned hell mouth, I already have enough trouble as it is in my life! It's enough to make me wonder whether or not the troll is actually a demon, instead of being a so-called human.

Xander mentally cursed as he was now forced to buy a costume, courtesy of the troll of a principal at Sunnydale High School. He found himself in a new costume shop by the name of Ethan's which had just opened recently in Sunnydale and most the kids at Sunnydale were raving about it.

Okay most of the poorer kids in Sunnydale were raving about it. Those who could afford good costumes were all off at Party Town, like Cordellia and the rest of her sheep. But there's no way in HELL I could even afford to get in the door, let alone buy a costume from that place! Besides knowing Cordy, if I even get within 50 yards of that place, I would never hear the end of it. So better to let sleeping dogs lie and avoid shopping at the same place as Queen C.

Xander mentally continued as he continued to look around the shop for a nice costume that would somehow fit within his pitiful budget. He sighed, as he gazed upon many costumes that he would like, but even at a discount shop like Ethan's were still beyond the measly twenty dollars he had in his wallet.

He gazed upon various costumes that he wished he had enough for. A superman, green lantern and batman suits from DC comics were still available but were way too expensive for him. On the MARVEL side of the coin, there was an Iron Man suit, an Incredible Hulk outfit and even a Magneto costume. But considering he was living on the Hell Mouth, there was no way he would even consider dressing up as a powerful villain, despite that villain being one of the coolest characters in the MARVEL stable of comics. He kept pouring over the various costumes even as he couldn't help but over hear a part of the conversation between Buffy and his best bud, Willow.

"Are you sure? I mean, I don't really know what his type his is." Buffy asked Willow nervously as the pair of them was looking over a gorgeous 18th Century dress. Such a dress would have been likely worn by a noblewoman during that time period.

"I"ve known him less than a year and if you hadn't noticed, he isn't exactly the type to over share." The Slayer moaned as she continued to examine the dress in detail.

"But Buffy, I think it would look great on you! And wasn't Angel born in that time period too? You know before he became a vampire and evil and stuff." Willow replied as she babbled relentlessly as she had a habit to do so.

It was at that point that Xander decided to tune out. Hearing his girls talk about Deadboy and what his possible likes and dislikes were, was definitely a major turn off in his book. It was at that point Xander saw THE MARVEL costume. It was one of the major heroes within Marvel comics, but Xander was afraid it was well past his price range. This character was his and Jesse's favourite. They both got into arguments over who would be the best sidekick for him. Himself, Jesse or the annoying teenaged mascot wannabe, James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes. Or at least they did before Jesse got killed and turned by a vampire.

It was Captain America's costume. Complete with tights, mask (or was that cowl?) and even had a pretty damned accurate replicate of the famous red, white and blue shield. But there was no way in hell he could afford such a fantastic costume as he sighed sadly.

"Can I help you there, young man?" Asked a British voice coming directly behind him. Startled out of his daydreams, Xander quickly spun around and exclaimed

"Arrrrrrrgh! Don't do that! You scared the crap out of me!"

" I apologise for the fright my young sir. My name is Ethan Rayne and I'm the owner of this establishment and I couldn't help but notice that you were taking a liking to this particular costume." The British store owner replied with a bit of a smirk.

"You know you shouldn't sneak up on people like that! Especially in this town!" Xander complained.

Ethan mentally smirked in response, as not only did he know that his old pal Ripper was in this town, this town was actually built on top of the hellmouth and was quite aware of the 'night life' activities and goings on that happened in Sunnydale.

"Again I must apologise. It won't happen again my good sir. Perhaps I could help you in some way? I believe I can help you with that particular costume if you like."

"Oh. Well thanks very much for the offer, but there's no way I could afford something like this I'm afraid. I'm kinda strapped for cash at the moment." Xander replied somewhat disheartened.

Ethan frowned somewhat as he heard the young man's downcast reply. Ethan had known the young man was a friend of jolly old Ripper and wanted to get him a costume that would make this Halloween a 'night to remember'. So Ethan had decided he would give this young lad a discount. Since the costume was plainly an American one, Ethan had no idea who the character was it had 'belonged' too. In hindsight, if Ethan had realised, he would have had second thoughts at enchanting this costume. Still, he had no idea and felt compelled to offer the young man a good deal.

"Nonsense, my boy! I'm sure we can come up with a deal that can suit both of us!" Ethan said as he tried to keep the evil smirk off his face, as he was only too aware such a smirk might tip the young man, the slayer and the red head off to his evil intentions.

"But it looks way too expensive and I only have twenty dollars…" Xander started to moan before he was interrupted by Ethan.

"Look son perhaps you don't really want to buy it. How about renting it for one night? Say for twenty dollars?" Ethan responded as he tried to get the young man to accept the deal.

"Really rent it for twenty dollars? What's the catch?" Xander asked as he started to get an inkling that something wasn't right at this shop.

"The only catch as you Americans would say, is too tell everyone where you got it. Small shops like mine depend on advertising as well as the word of mouth. What do you say young man?" Ethan responded as he soothed the suspicions of Ripper's young friend.

"Sure Mr Rayne! You've got a deal!" Xander responded as he realised he's got a sweet deal and would no longer get in trouble with the troll. His suspicions faded to the back of his mind as he was just too happy with the deal he got to really think the matter through properly.

"Please follow me to the register and I will ring you up." Ethan said even as he gestured for Xander to follow him to the store's counter.

"Sure."

While Xander followed Ethan to the counter with the newly rented Captain America costume, Buffy and Willow were still talking to one side of the store. Buffy had just decided on the noblewoman dress, while Willow being Willow had just picked up a classic ghost costume from one of the shelves.

"A Ghost costume Willow? Isn't that a bit plain?" Buffy sighed.

"But it's a time honoured classic!" Willow protested.

"Willow, can I give you a little piece of advice?" Buffy asked Willow.

"It's not spooky enough?" Willow replied somewhat hesitantly.

"It's just that well….you're never going to get noticed if you keep hiding. You just seem to be missing the whole point of Halloween." Buffy stated before sighing.

"Ummm lots of free candy and chocolate?" Willow asked.

Buffy sighed again as she started to get a little bit frustrated. She knew that Willow had a big crush on Xander. It was pretty obvious.

Hell, it was pretty obvious to the entire school bar the one person that really mattered. I had really hoped that Xander would get over that silly crush he had on myself and really looked at what he could truly have with her best friend Willow. Boys could really be dense and dumb sometimes.

The slayer thought to her self, even as she began to counter Willow's last point.

"Willow, it's come as you aren't night on Halloween. It's the perfect chance for a girl to get sexy and wild with no repercussions."

"But Buffy! I don't get wild. Wild on me equals 'spaz'." Willow protested as she started to turn a bit red and begin to hyperventilate.

"I know you've got it in you, Will. You're just scared and lacking a little bit of confidence." Buffy replied as she tried to boost Willow's self confidence and self worth.

Xander had at that moment just taken the opportunity to walk over to the girls, with his newest acquisition packed neatly into two carry all bags. Willow noticed Xander coming over and seized her chance to change the subject.

"Hey Xander. What did you get?" She asked, even as Buffy began to pout as she realised what Willow was up to.

"It's a surprise Wills. Guess you and the Buffster just have to wait till Halloween. So Wills, have you picked out your ghost costume yet?" Xander asked innocently. In reply Willow held up the packet she had just taken from the shelves.

"That's my Wills! Always going for the classics." Xander remarked before Buffy butted in.

"Xander! Don't you think that Willow should try something else for a change?" The Slayer tried.

"Not going to happen, Buffster. Willow's gone as a ghost for Halloween the last five Halloweens in a row. Isn't that right Wills?" Xander asked with a cheesy grin on his face.

"You, betcha Mister!" Willow quickly agreed even while Buffy began to sigh quietly so neither of her two best friends could over hear.

"So Buffster, what did you get?" Xander asked even while Buffy began to hold up dress that he had overheard the girls talking about before.

"Too bulky, I prefer my woman in spandex!" Xander mocked complained even as both girls slapped him on the arms in mock anger.

"Xander!" both chorused in 5.1 stereo, even as Xander started to rub his arms.

"Was it something I said?"

Buffy was holding the dress up again when Ethan Rayne, the shop owner approaches the owner.

Perfect! What chaos I could cause if I can get the Slayer to buy that dress! She would be nothing more than a helpless, screaming and totally witless 18th Century noblewoman!

Ethan smirked mentally to himself as he approached the slayer with a devilish glint in his eye and began to help Buffy with the noblewoman's dress.

"Please, let me." Ethan said as he offered his assistance.

"It's…" Buffy began before she was interrupted.

"Magnificent, I know. I bet you would look like a real princess in this dress." Ethan complimented the Slayer in the hopes he could talk her into buying it.

"I'm sorry but there's no way I could afford this." The slayer replied a bit sadly.

"Nonsense, my dear. I've already done a deal with your friend there." Ethan said as he pointed to Xander. "And there's no reason why I can't make a deal with you too."

"Really?" Buffed asked even while she was trying not to get her hopes up.

"Yes, really. I feel moved to make you an offer that you just can't refuse." Ethan replied as he led the Slayer to the register counter.

Willow quickly followed Buffy and Ethan towards the counter so that she could pay for her ghost costume, while Xander waited patiently by the door with his own 'purchases'. Soon, all purchases had been paid for and the trio quickly left the shop, not knowing what the fates as well as the Chaos Mage Ethan Rayne had in store for them.