Ordinary Men
By: BoxerMan
I dedicate this story to my fiancée who puts up with all of the crap I put her through.
Buffy/Batman Crossover
Disclaimers: I can carry everything that I own, and I don't see how I can carry a TV show, maybe a TV, although I could carry a comic book, but I still don't own anything really.
A/N: As I said earlier, I haven't really been watching Buffy that much lately, but I caught Dirty Girls, that gave me a different idea for this story, DAMN YOU UPN FOR MAKING ME REWRITE A BLOODY CHAPTER. After Dirty Girls, I just couldn't post what I had written, it just felt wrong, besides, its my story and I can do whatever I damn well please. Well anyway, feedback is appreciated, and the first part of this chapter is the end of the conversation in the restaurant, set before Dirty Girls, the second part is set after.
A/N2: I know about the rumors about Xander getting powers; how this affects the story, I don't know, see what happens.
A/N3: Ok, to answer some questions, Bruce Wayne is in his late 40s early 50s, there are no real links to Batman Beyond, but hey, if I can get convinced, who knows
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Ch 3, Part 1 Perini's Italian Restaurant
"Xander, I am not one for BS. I would like for you to come out here to L.A. and supervise construction of the Wayne Enterprises West Coast building."
"Mr. Wayne, "
"Bruce."
"Bruce, what are you talking about? First, I drive all the way from Sunnydale to get here. Then you start to tell me off on how I should or shouldn't live my life. Then you offer me a JOB?"
"Yes."
"Oh."
"I didn't mean to upset you. I was impressed with the work you've done onsite, but your activities outside of work were a concern. Your former supervisor was very impressed with your work, but he stated how you would come into work with bruises or a broken arm. I cannot allow any of the people that work for me here in L.A. to engage in that kind of activity. I just had to be sure you weren't a thug, or gang member. That was one reason for this meeting. I had to read you correctly."
"THAT's why you were trying to confuse and interrogate me?"
"Confuse, no. Interrogate, possibly." Bruce smirked.
"So what was with all of the other____"
"Excuse me gentlemen, but your food is ready."
Xander and Bruce looked up at the waitress as she placed their food on the table. Bruce looked at his Tortelloni di Fizzano. A light and simple dish consisting of Tortelloni stuffed with ricotta cheese and spinach in a creamy beef and pork sauce, Tortelloni di Fizzano is for anyone that enjoys classical Italian entrée. Then he looked at Xander. Xander got Cheese Ravioli.
They ate in relative silence, Bruce because it was bad manners to speak with food in you mouth and Xander because he was still a little on the defense. The offer of a better job was still lingering on his mind. To be in charge of an entire operation was an incredible responsibility. He was torturing himself. Even though he would never leave Buffy or anyone else with everything that was going on, he still wanted to know that people thought highly of him. As he finished off his plate, he realized that it wasn't worth it. No matter what, he couldn't leave them. He started to get up.
"Don't leave yet."
"Why not?"
"I am sorry for having to quiz you like that."
"Its not that Mr. Wayne."
"Please call me Bruce. You can call me Mr. Wayne if you would come work for me."
"Well, Bruce, I can't come work in L.A. I can't leave my friends. I have a life there."
"Everyone grows up Xander, everyone leaves the nest. Besides, it's only a three-hour drive to Sunnydale from L.A. You could see your friends anytime you want. I am offering you an upper management job. You would supervise the entire construction. Tell me that you aren't thinking about it."
"If it were any other time, I would seriously consider it. But in the end, I can't leave, my friends need me." 'Whether they know it or not,' he thought. "Can you understand that?"
"I understand. I know how important friends and family are." Bruce signaled the waitress to get the check. "Is there anything that I can say to change your mind?"
Xander flashed a lopsided grin. "No, I'm sorry ___ Bruce, but there is no force in heaven or hell that would get me to leave."
"At least I got you to call me 'Bruce.' I understand. Listen, Here is my card. If you change your mind, give me a call. I can always use someone who can hold their own in a verbal fight."
"Thank you Mr. Wayne."
Bruce sighed. "Well small victories always help, even if they are short lived."
Both men stood up. Bruce held out his hand. "It was a pleasure meeting you Mr. Harris."
Xander winced as he shook his hand. "Now I know why you want me to call you Bruce. It was nice to meet you too."
///////////////////////
Ch3, Part 2 (After Dirty Girls) Sunnydale General Hospital
"Excuse me Miss, do you know what room Alexander Harris is in?"
"Visiting hours will be over in fifteen minutes sir, you can come back tomorrow between 11 am and 7 pm if you want."
"I promise that I'll only be in there for ten." He flashed his biggest grin. It had worked so many times he lost count. Too bad that anyone that actually knew him shuddered when he used it. "I'm an old friend."
"One of many I'm sure." The nurse continued with her work for a minute before looking back up. "Tell you what, if you're out in five minutes, I don't really care." He waited as she looked it up on the patient registry. "Alexander Harris, room 115. It'll be the fourth door on your left."
"Thank you."
He got to the door and was surprised that there was no one around. From what he heard from the rest of the hospital staff there was a whole group of people that came in with him. Mostly young women who were either being operated on or checking up on the rest of them. He knocked to see if anyone was in. There wasn't an answer, so he opened the door.
He looked around the room, once you've seen one hospital room you've generally seen them all, but it was an old habit to scope out a room just in case. He walked past the foot of the bed to make sure that when Xander looked up he would be on his right side. He knew enough that if he stood on his blind side, he would assume the worst.
"Hello Xander."
"Who is it?"
"Its Bruce Wayne, I had dinner with."
"I remember. Are you coming to take your offer back? I know it's not very wise to hire a foreman that can't see half the site."
"Nothing like that, I just thought you'd like to talk some more."
"About what? About how flat everything is, about how feels to have someone else's fingers in your eye? No thanks were full up of crazy, go somewhere else."
"No, I just wanted to ask you a question?"
"Those were questions."
"Does it change anything?"
"What?"
"Does it change anything?"
"What do you mean, 'Does it change anything?' of course it changes things. I can't work anymore. My insurance is out. Some of the girls are dead, I wasn't able to help, and I'm even useless than before. I would say 'hell yes' it changes everything."
"Will you stop?"
"Stop what."
"Quit that Xander. I know what's going on. Girls died today, girls what, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen years old? What the hell were you thinking? They were too young to get into this type of life."
"They didn't choose this."
"What did YOU choose for them?"
"NO, I tried to make sure that they were all ok, I tried to help, and they died. They were coming for the rest of the girls, and we tried to stop them before they could. I don't know who in the hell decided that the fate of the world should rest in the hands on fifteen year old girls, but it sure in hell wasn't me."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"I don't have time for this, I have to check up on the girls."
"You are not leaving this room until you tell me what in gods name is going on."
Xander looked up and stared into his face. He looked a little flat compared to the last time he say him. "I may only have one eye, and you might be bigger than me, but there is no force in heaven or earth that is going to keep me from seeing my girls."
"Youre strapped to the bed."
"What?"
"It seems you were giving the doctors and nurses a hard time, so they strapped you to the bed to keep you from fighting them."
"That wont stop me."
"Xander, youre not doing anyone any good like this."
Xander closed his eye and whispered softly, "I never do any good."
"Just tell me what happened."
They both stayed silent for a while, neither knowing what to do next. Xander needed someone to talk to. Everyone that he knew and actually trusted was too involved in everything. He knew that he could trust Bruce, at least to an extent. Bruce, after he left their meeting in L.A. looked a bit more thoroughly into Sunnydale's past. Years of missing people, unexplained deaths, explosions, the occult showing up, and this little burg had so much terror living in it, that he was amazed. When he got the news that Xander had been severely injured, he decided to come down and figure out just what the hell happens in Sunnydale. He looked Xander in the face and simply said, "What happened?"
Xander looked in Bruce's face and saw that if he didn't tell him, he would probably go out on his own. He breathed deeply and said, "Do you believe in vampires Mr. Wayne?"
I dedicate this story to my fiancée who puts up with all of the crap I put her through.
Buffy/Batman Crossover
Disclaimers: I can carry everything that I own, and I don't see how I can carry a TV show, maybe a TV, although I could carry a comic book, but I still don't own anything really.
A/N: As I said earlier, I haven't really been watching Buffy that much lately, but I caught Dirty Girls, that gave me a different idea for this story, DAMN YOU UPN FOR MAKING ME REWRITE A BLOODY CHAPTER. After Dirty Girls, I just couldn't post what I had written, it just felt wrong, besides, its my story and I can do whatever I damn well please. Well anyway, feedback is appreciated, and the first part of this chapter is the end of the conversation in the restaurant, set before Dirty Girls, the second part is set after.
A/N2: I know about the rumors about Xander getting powers; how this affects the story, I don't know, see what happens.
A/N3: Ok, to answer some questions, Bruce Wayne is in his late 40s early 50s, there are no real links to Batman Beyond, but hey, if I can get convinced, who knows
///////////////////////
Ch 3, Part 1 Perini's Italian Restaurant
"Xander, I am not one for BS. I would like for you to come out here to L.A. and supervise construction of the Wayne Enterprises West Coast building."
"Mr. Wayne, "
"Bruce."
"Bruce, what are you talking about? First, I drive all the way from Sunnydale to get here. Then you start to tell me off on how I should or shouldn't live my life. Then you offer me a JOB?"
"Yes."
"Oh."
"I didn't mean to upset you. I was impressed with the work you've done onsite, but your activities outside of work were a concern. Your former supervisor was very impressed with your work, but he stated how you would come into work with bruises or a broken arm. I cannot allow any of the people that work for me here in L.A. to engage in that kind of activity. I just had to be sure you weren't a thug, or gang member. That was one reason for this meeting. I had to read you correctly."
"THAT's why you were trying to confuse and interrogate me?"
"Confuse, no. Interrogate, possibly." Bruce smirked.
"So what was with all of the other____"
"Excuse me gentlemen, but your food is ready."
Xander and Bruce looked up at the waitress as she placed their food on the table. Bruce looked at his Tortelloni di Fizzano. A light and simple dish consisting of Tortelloni stuffed with ricotta cheese and spinach in a creamy beef and pork sauce, Tortelloni di Fizzano is for anyone that enjoys classical Italian entrée. Then he looked at Xander. Xander got Cheese Ravioli.
They ate in relative silence, Bruce because it was bad manners to speak with food in you mouth and Xander because he was still a little on the defense. The offer of a better job was still lingering on his mind. To be in charge of an entire operation was an incredible responsibility. He was torturing himself. Even though he would never leave Buffy or anyone else with everything that was going on, he still wanted to know that people thought highly of him. As he finished off his plate, he realized that it wasn't worth it. No matter what, he couldn't leave them. He started to get up.
"Don't leave yet."
"Why not?"
"I am sorry for having to quiz you like that."
"Its not that Mr. Wayne."
"Please call me Bruce. You can call me Mr. Wayne if you would come work for me."
"Well, Bruce, I can't come work in L.A. I can't leave my friends. I have a life there."
"Everyone grows up Xander, everyone leaves the nest. Besides, it's only a three-hour drive to Sunnydale from L.A. You could see your friends anytime you want. I am offering you an upper management job. You would supervise the entire construction. Tell me that you aren't thinking about it."
"If it were any other time, I would seriously consider it. But in the end, I can't leave, my friends need me." 'Whether they know it or not,' he thought. "Can you understand that?"
"I understand. I know how important friends and family are." Bruce signaled the waitress to get the check. "Is there anything that I can say to change your mind?"
Xander flashed a lopsided grin. "No, I'm sorry ___ Bruce, but there is no force in heaven or hell that would get me to leave."
"At least I got you to call me 'Bruce.' I understand. Listen, Here is my card. If you change your mind, give me a call. I can always use someone who can hold their own in a verbal fight."
"Thank you Mr. Wayne."
Bruce sighed. "Well small victories always help, even if they are short lived."
Both men stood up. Bruce held out his hand. "It was a pleasure meeting you Mr. Harris."
Xander winced as he shook his hand. "Now I know why you want me to call you Bruce. It was nice to meet you too."
///////////////////////
Ch3, Part 2 (After Dirty Girls) Sunnydale General Hospital
"Excuse me Miss, do you know what room Alexander Harris is in?"
"Visiting hours will be over in fifteen minutes sir, you can come back tomorrow between 11 am and 7 pm if you want."
"I promise that I'll only be in there for ten." He flashed his biggest grin. It had worked so many times he lost count. Too bad that anyone that actually knew him shuddered when he used it. "I'm an old friend."
"One of many I'm sure." The nurse continued with her work for a minute before looking back up. "Tell you what, if you're out in five minutes, I don't really care." He waited as she looked it up on the patient registry. "Alexander Harris, room 115. It'll be the fourth door on your left."
"Thank you."
He got to the door and was surprised that there was no one around. From what he heard from the rest of the hospital staff there was a whole group of people that came in with him. Mostly young women who were either being operated on or checking up on the rest of them. He knocked to see if anyone was in. There wasn't an answer, so he opened the door.
He looked around the room, once you've seen one hospital room you've generally seen them all, but it was an old habit to scope out a room just in case. He walked past the foot of the bed to make sure that when Xander looked up he would be on his right side. He knew enough that if he stood on his blind side, he would assume the worst.
"Hello Xander."
"Who is it?"
"Its Bruce Wayne, I had dinner with."
"I remember. Are you coming to take your offer back? I know it's not very wise to hire a foreman that can't see half the site."
"Nothing like that, I just thought you'd like to talk some more."
"About what? About how flat everything is, about how feels to have someone else's fingers in your eye? No thanks were full up of crazy, go somewhere else."
"No, I just wanted to ask you a question?"
"Those were questions."
"Does it change anything?"
"What?"
"Does it change anything?"
"What do you mean, 'Does it change anything?' of course it changes things. I can't work anymore. My insurance is out. Some of the girls are dead, I wasn't able to help, and I'm even useless than before. I would say 'hell yes' it changes everything."
"Will you stop?"
"Stop what."
"Quit that Xander. I know what's going on. Girls died today, girls what, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen years old? What the hell were you thinking? They were too young to get into this type of life."
"They didn't choose this."
"What did YOU choose for them?"
"NO, I tried to make sure that they were all ok, I tried to help, and they died. They were coming for the rest of the girls, and we tried to stop them before they could. I don't know who in the hell decided that the fate of the world should rest in the hands on fifteen year old girls, but it sure in hell wasn't me."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"I don't have time for this, I have to check up on the girls."
"You are not leaving this room until you tell me what in gods name is going on."
Xander looked up and stared into his face. He looked a little flat compared to the last time he say him. "I may only have one eye, and you might be bigger than me, but there is no force in heaven or earth that is going to keep me from seeing my girls."
"Youre strapped to the bed."
"What?"
"It seems you were giving the doctors and nurses a hard time, so they strapped you to the bed to keep you from fighting them."
"That wont stop me."
"Xander, youre not doing anyone any good like this."
Xander closed his eye and whispered softly, "I never do any good."
"Just tell me what happened."
They both stayed silent for a while, neither knowing what to do next. Xander needed someone to talk to. Everyone that he knew and actually trusted was too involved in everything. He knew that he could trust Bruce, at least to an extent. Bruce, after he left their meeting in L.A. looked a bit more thoroughly into Sunnydale's past. Years of missing people, unexplained deaths, explosions, the occult showing up, and this little burg had so much terror living in it, that he was amazed. When he got the news that Xander had been severely injured, he decided to come down and figure out just what the hell happens in Sunnydale. He looked Xander in the face and simply said, "What happened?"
Xander looked in Bruce's face and saw that if he didn't tell him, he would probably go out on his own. He breathed deeply and said, "Do you believe in vampires Mr. Wayne?"