Super Xander
DISCLAIMER: I do not own DC Comics or BTVS!
Author's Note: This is an alternate universe and may not follow any timeline of any Superman show or comic book.
Many thanks to my beta, Buggycas.
Chapter 1
Xander looked around the costume shop for the cheapest costume. He'd be damned if he was going to spend more hard earned money than he had to just to appease Principal Snyder. The Principal had come across him and Cordelia trading insults and not only volunteered them to help the little kids trick or treat but told them they had to wear matching costumes. He snorted like he could afford to match anything Cordelia bought. Unfortunately, his perusal of the sale rack was stopped short by a hand on his arm.
"Doofus!" Cordelia exclaimed. "Why are you looking at the sale rack?"
"Because I don't want to spend what little I have because of Snyder?" he replied.
"Well, yeah, I can see that, but I have to match you, and I can't be seen in a bargain costume," she said. "It's bad enough that we have to go here. The owner must play golf with the Mayor or something to get it listed as the only store allowed for that stupid 'Help the Children' initiative."
"Okay, then you get to buy both costumes," Xander said. "And remember Snyder said they must be heroic and present a good role model for the children."
She sighed, "Yeah, I remember." She looked around, "Okay, how about this deal. You find two heroic costumes that match and if they meet the little troll's requirements and don't make me want to barf I'll buy them?"
Xander nodded, "Sure. Meet you at the register then." He walked off towards the sign advertising superhero costumes.
Cordelia sighed as she watched him go. She'd rather not wear something out of a comic book, but none of her personal heroes would have costumes here. No, the fashion here was either old fashioned spooky like that ghost costume she spotted Willow carrying, the usual barely-there costumes for those who want to show off, and comic book stuff. Well, at least she had the figure to pull off the typical super-heroine costume. Shrugging she went to the cash register to wait for her unwilling partner in tomorrow night's buffoonery.
When Xander showed up with the two costumes even, she recognized the symbol of Superman but said, "Wait, there are two of him and one's female?"
Xander nodded, "Yup! More actually but these are Superman and Powergirl costumes. Will these work?"
She shrugged, "Good enough for one night I guess." She had to badger the owner a bit to properly place them in boxes, but eventually, he took them to the back and did so even if he had a creepy smile when he came back. She took hers and advised Xander that he better be ready on time tomorrow night before leaving.
Xander shrugged and took his box, "Sorry, she can be a bit forceful, but there's a real human under all that."
Ethan smirked, "If you say so. It seems you'll have an interesting night."
The next morning at the library Willow was complaining about Snyder. It seems he had vetoed her ghost costume.
"I mean how can he say that? It's the very essence of a Halloween costume! It covers me everywhere and lets me see out without being seen," she said gesturing.
Buffy looked sympathetic, "I know. I saw the perfect dress to catch Angel's attention, but I can't wear it tonight because of his decree that all costumes must be heroic and provide a role model to the kiddies." She shrugged, "Sorry Will but ghost just doesn't scream role model."
"But it could!" Willow exclaimed. "It could be, like, a heroic ghost. The ghost of someone who died heroically. Or someone who does good things to atone for wickedness in life. He didn't even listen to my explanation. How can I convince him if he won't listen?"
"You'll never convince him, Wills," Xander said. "Just go back to the store after the last bell and grab something else. There's a couple of hours between when we get to leave this place and when we have to come back for escort duty."
"But I've been a ghost since I first went trick or treating at six!" she replied.
"Don't you think you're a little old for trick or treating now?" Buffy replied.
"Ha!" came a scornful voice. Cordelia followed her voice into the library. "She even rang the bell at my house last year. She clearly hasn't hit puberty yet and still thinks like an eight-year-old."
Willow scowled at her, "You big poopy-head! You gave me a toothbrush too."
"You mean the maid did," Cordelia answered. "I was at a party. An adult party rather than skipping about town asking strangers for free candy. I think that was the year stepmom was on a kick about sugar." She looked at Xander, "I came looking for you. Are you sure Power Girl, or whoever, is related to Superman? I notice she has no 'S' on her chest."
He nodded, "Scout's honor Cordy. I don't have the comics on me, but I can show you on the library computer if you want." He got up and went over to it bringing up pictures of her and Supergirl, "They are both Kryptonian, same as Superman. I just, uh, figured …"
She snorted as Xander trailed off, "You figured you'd rather see me in this costume." She scrolled through the pictures, "Well it looks like Larry's wrong and your balls have dropped."
"He's been saying that?" Xander replied angrily.
"Ever since Buffy beat him up to save you a few days back," she agreed. "If it helps, not too many actually believe him. They may not consciously remember what goes on in this town, but they know you go out at night often and you're still here so you can't be a marshmallow."
Buffy asked, "Exactly how did Xander come to choose your costume, Cordelia?"
"Snyder caught us arguing in the hallway and sentenced us to matching costumes and rugrat patrol," she said. "Since I can't be expected to know comics I let Xander pick both out." She smirked, "I have the figure to pull it off of course, but I'm happy that it's not supposed to be too cold tonight since it's basically a white leotard with a cleavage window and a cape that doesn't reach my butt." She takes another look at the screen, "Well, it's an authentic superhero costume so Snyder can't bitch and I'll look awesome in it. So good job perv, I just hope you can control your drool." With that, she turned and strode out of the library.
Willow turned to Buffy, "Can you come with me to the costume shop after school? I suddenly want a new costume. Maybe something in spandex."
Buffy grinned, "Sure Will, but first, we have classes." She led the fuming girl out of the room as Xander shut down the computer.
After classes, Buffy and Willow head back to Ethan's to look for costumes that could more reasonably be considered role models.
Riding a wave of indignation and poorly hidden jealousy Willow picks a costume worn by the version of Gwen Stacy that was bitten by the spider and went on to become Spiderwoman. Or Spider Gwen in the minds of some. "Isn't it pretty?" Willow said, gesturing.
Buffy nodded, "I like the use of pink in the cowl and on the arms. It's very feminine."
"And it doesn't flaunt cleavage," Willow added.
Buffy smiled, "Which is good because you don't have any more than I do."
Willow grinned, "I'm going to go buy it."
Once they got home, she changed into it and looking into the mirror her glee fled and took her confidence with it.
"It's too tight," Willow said.
"You look great, Will!" Buffy said. "All the boys will be looking at you."
"Eep!" Willow replied. "I don't think I'm ready for that!"
"You want Xander to notice you're a girl right?" Buffy said.
"Well, yeah but," Willow started then trailed off. She pushed back the hood and took off the mask, "I'm grateful for all your help and support Buffy, but I don't think I can wear this. It's too revealing."
"You're wearing underwear," Buffy stated. "And it's not rented, it's bought."
"I know," Willow said and pouted. Then she smiled, "You don't think it's too revealing right?"
"Right!" Buffy said. "I think it's totally cute."
"Then you can wear it," Willow said, starting to take it off.
"What?" Buffy said.
"It's stretchy, and we're close enough in build that it should fit you too," Willow said. "I don't want it to go to waste Buffy, but I can't bring myself to wear it outside."
"Well okay, if you're sure," Buffy said. "But what are you going to wear? You vetoed the Black Widow costume as well."
"I'll think of something," Willow said. She went to her closet and eventually put together an Eleanor Roosevelt costume. "There! A heroic role model that doesn't depend on sex appeal."
"And just in time, "Buffy said. "We have to leave to pick up the kids."
"Alright, I'm ready." Willow said.
When they got to school, Cordelia was the center of attention and loved it. Most guys, including Xander, were sneaking looks at her chest when she faced them and her butt when she didn't.
Willow scowled when she noticed that then she sighed and looked for Snyder. Finding him, she said, "I'm ready to escort the children, Principal Snyder."
"Who ...," he started to ask. Then he shook his head, "Nevermind I don't care. You're with Summers. Take the first group of kids, the ones by that wall. Come back in 2 hours with all of them, and you can go home." He turned and walked over to Xander and Cordelia, "You can stop making a spectacle of yourself Ms. Chase and take Harris and the other children for their little excursion. Please return the children in two hours. If you somehow lose Harris along the way, I won't complain."
She nodded, "I understand. Come on Xander, let's do this."
As she left Snyder went about sending the other groups of children out with two teens to supervise them. Then he went to the gym to reassure all the parents there that everything would go well. He hoped the Mayor knew what he was doing, letting teenagers be involved in anything was a recipe for disaster he believed. As he walked into the gym, he found himself hoping someone had spiked the punch.
Superman staggered and shook his head, "Whoa! What happened?"
"Good question cousin," he heard from behind him. "And I'm thinking the answer has to be magic because you're suddenly a teenager and I'm suddenly a brunette."
He turned to see a teenage girl dressed in the uniform of Powergirl. It wasn't his cousin Kara, but it was a Kryptonian as far as his senses could detect. He looked at his face in a car's side view mirror and frowned, "You're right. Only magic could move my mind from one body to another in that short of a time. Also, this body hasn't been Kryptonian very long. It has not been exposed to Earth's sun yet and seems to have started as an Earth human."
"Well magic has always been our weakness, and too many realize it," she replied. "You've had to deal with more weird situations than I have, so what do you suggest we do?"
He smiled at her, "Well things seem more than a bit chaotic around here. Let's keep the people safe and try to bring order. Whoever brought us here will show themselves along the way, and then we can deal with them." He looked around and noticed most of the strange looking beasts were human under the skin; as if something had given them skin deep masks. "I think we are not the only ones being altered. Most of these are human."
"Maybe," she replied, "but not all." Her heat vision flashed out weakly and hit a creature trying to lift an Ewok to its mouth. The creature caught fire and burned to ash in seconds. "Ugh, vampires," she said.
He nodded grimly, "We can easily tell the difference with our senses, but these bodies are weak by our standards. Still, we should be able to deal with any of them that don't cast spells. We could use some help though." He pulled out his Justice League communicator, "Superman to Batman, come in Batman." No one replied, and he heard only static no matter who he tried to call.
"Could we be on a different Earth?" Kara asked. "It wouldn't be the first time for me."
"That would explain things," he said. "That narrows it down if it was one of our villains, but if it was someone from here, it could be anybody." There was a scream, and he raced off towards it.
She followed him, "Until we know who is behind this and how magic is involved I think the buddy system is in order even if it will be overkill for almost anything."
He agreed, and they spent the night saving people and trying not to injure those who were only monsters on the outside. They fought the real monsters though and dusted any vampire they saw attacking people. They were so low on energy that they actually ran out of heat vision and stayed on the ground rather than fly.
The spell lasted until morning because Willow, without being a ghost or having people to protect her, had holed up in Buffy's house and waited for it to end. Angel came by and stayed to help because he figured Buffy was as safe being Spiderwoman as she was being the Slayer and would want him to keep Willow alive.
At sunrise, Ethan sighed, "Maybe Ripper wasn't in the city after all. Oh, well at least I got to have some fun. I had better leave though before people start figuring things out." He grabbed his cash profits and drove off already planning where to play his next prank.
At sunrise, Buffy was sitting on top of a light pole and almost fell when she switched from being a spider-powered Gwen Stacy back to being her. Fortunately, her Slayer abilities let her climb down safely. She made her way home and found Willow there.
"Slow down Willow," she repeatedly said as she checked the house and got ready for bed. Eventually, she fell asleep listening to Willow, and it wasn't until she woke up that she knew that Angel had been there and helped keep Willow safe.
Sunrise caught the two Kryptonians in front of a tanning salon. Kara had been suggesting they try it and see if it helped charge them up like sunlight did. Kal-El had been against it since it was locked and he didn't want to break into someone's shop just to get a power boost. The two of them stopped arguing as the spell faded then started again as Xander and Cordelia started arguing about whose fault it was that they were involved in all the craziness.
As the sunlight poured down on them, they slowly realized that they were still Kryptonian. Cordelia shouted at him, "You doofus! You got us permanently changed!"
"Me?" he replied. "I'm not the crazy mage who caused everyone to become their costumes!"
"Yeah, but you picked the costumes!" she shouted.
"You're welcome!" he shouted back. "We became people who could survive nearly anything. Whomever you had in mind would have probably gotten eaten by something!" Then his eyes widened, "Oh no. I have to go check on Willow and Buffy, and you probably want to check on your own friends. We can continue this later."
She watched him run away at superspeed and frowned, then rushed off to check on Aura before going home. Once home she changed into a bikini and napped by the pool soaking up the sunshine and storing the power for a rainy day.