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
Summary: Xander meets a kindred spirit.
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.
Updated A/N: Thanks everyone that has reviewed and read the story so far. Anyway, to clear up any confusion as to the storyline: The first two chapters take place before "Dirty Girls" while the third chapter is broken into two parts, the first is set before "Dirty Girls," and the second half is set after. Xander didn't leave the hospital with Willow, but left when Bringers tried to kill him and Bruce Wayne. (For anyone who hasn't read the story, that might sound a bit odd) Afterwards Xander goes to the Summers' house to find it blown up (the bomb that faith found), and lost it when he fought some more Bringers. Buffy didn't kill Caleb. And now the dynamic duo is on their way to Sunnydale high to confront the First Evil and Caleb. My fantastic beta reader, also known as the most intelligent and beautiful woman on the face of the earth, who you all can call my fiancée beta read this and decided that it was, and I quote, "Okay." So here you go, please read and review.
A/N2: ok guys, this is a repost. I am not an English major. I personally doubt that I ever have or ever will use entirely correct grammar. I am a stupid, stupid man. My fiancé was sure to remind me of that. When I reminded her that she 'checked' the chapter I somehow lost the argument. Also Batman did have a sense of humor, his is usually the very dry, sarcastic kind.
/////////////////////// Main Street, Sunnydale
Xander looked out of the window. It was almost surreal. The buildings, cars, benches, trees were all there, but there was no one around. When they first started on their way to the high school, he almost thought that it was an optical illusion. Everything looked so flat and uneven, and to top it off, there wasn't a living soul in sight. 'Or an undead one either.' He thought. He looked back at the dashboard. Little buttons and lights were flashing on and off. It was a little hypnotizing especially the big red button off to the side. He wondered what would happen.
"Don't press that one."
Xander looked at the stranger again. Another one of his 'optical illusions.' A strangely frightening man in a Halloween costume that drove a car that looked like it was stolen from a movie back lot. 'God,' he thought to himself, 'I thought algebra was confusing.'
The man noticed Xander looking at him for a minute. He could feel the tension and anger stat to ebb down from him. It was how he expected Xander to react after going out of control. He would start to make jokes in his head and try to distract himself from what had happened earlier. Nobody likes to admit that they have a dark side. Xander, for all of his compassion and love and devotion to his friends also had as much anger. He thought that he could always control it. After leaving his bride at the altar and trying to act against what he had seen in his childhood, the man mused that Xander was truly frightened of that part of himself. The man knew how he felt. But he also knew that you have to recognize it, accept it, and embrace it in order to really control it.
"Where is everyone?"
The man was brought out of his train of thought by the question. "They all left, except for a few who were at the hospital and other emergency services, but I suspect that they'll leave soon."
"Why?"
The man kept an eye on the road. "Can't you feel that?"
Xander nodded.
The man continued. "All living things have a sense about danger. Have you ever noticed or heard about animals leaving before an earthquake or a storm. The greater a disaster, the stronger that sense is felt and the more people believe it. It seems that many people in Sunnydale knew about what goes on when the sun went down." He turned to face Xander. "Only a few actually stood up against the night. But now everyone has that feeling and its so strong that either the incredibly stupid or incredibly brave are staying."
Xander smiled. "Which one are we?"
The man smirked back "That remains to be seen."
Xander looked back outside as they passed the Bronze. Memories of everything that happened started to flow back. He turned back to face the men. "Do you know if anyone made it out of the house?"
The man was waiting for that question. "I don't know. From what I could tell, there were no bodies at the scene, and the explosion happened not that long ago, so I really can't say who was there and who made it out."
Xander was expecting that answer. "Yeah, I know, you can hope though right?"
The man tried to give him a little smile. "Right."
Xander looked back out of the window. They were all survivors. Buffy, Willow, Dawn, Giles, Faith, Anya, hell even Wood, Spike, and the rest of the girls. Strait all down the line they were survivors. Even as he tried to build some hope back up there was a large nagging feeling in the back of his head and the pit of his soul. They didn't make it. As much as he knew that they were alive, he knew that they were dead.
The man watched as Xander tried to gather himself. He knew it was hard. He had been there before. He thought back to the day when he lost his apprentice to the forces of darkness. It clouded his mind and turned him against himself. He blamed himself for so long, and still did a little. He knew that the guilt would probably never go away. He had accepted that. The same was happening to Xander, only they kicked the all of the legs out from under him, but didn't leave him the ability to have peace of mind.
Back and forth, back and forth, Xander couldn't bring himself to make a decision. Dead or alive. Lost or found. He couldn't choose. If he acknowledged that they were dead, he knew in his heart that he would never find them. If he believed that they were alive, he would only lead himself on blind hope only to find that they were really and truly dead. 'Dammit Xander, quit being such a fucking wuss.' He could hear his father start to talk in his mind. 'Any friends that you'll get, they'll leave. You just aint good enough.' For years he believed what his dad had said. First he wasn't good enough for the popular kids, later he wasn't good enough to help with the slaying, now he wasn't good enough to save his friends. He had been to so many peoples' funerals in the past 23 years. Kendra, Tara, Ms. Calendar, Jesse, they were all dead. Even before he was introduced to vampires, there were people missing from school every day, friends, family, acquaintances, they were all gone. He could have done something then and he could have done something now.
"I know what youre thinking."
Xander looked up at the man like he was a three-headed goat. "What the hell are you talking about?"
The man looked over at Xander as he continued to drive. "Think that youre the only one that lost people?"
Xander kept quiet.
"Everyone looses people Xander, its part of life, regardless of what you can do. I lost my parents, both of them. In one second my life was turned around. I was just a nine-year-old kid when I saw the dead bodies of the two people I loved the most in the world die on the sidewalk. They were my entire family, and I lost them in a split second. That's how I was introduced into this world, by loosing my mother and father."
Xander looked the man in the face. "Demon?"
The man shook his head. "Like I said, most of the time I deal with the evils of the 'human' variety. Most demons have an excuse; they don't know any better. People are different. People have souls. I have seen things that humans will do to each other that would make demons disgusted."
Xander remained silent, taking in what the man said.
"Who did you lose Xander?"
"Everyone."
The man knew that this was still a touchy subject, but went a little further. "Who was the first?"
Xander sighed. He felt guilty. It had been a while since he thought about him. "My best friend growing up, he was a great guy. He got turned the day I met Buffy, the slayer. He came back for a ritual called 'the Harvest.'"
"A ritual used to strengthen master vampires."
"That's the one. I came with Buffy and tried to help out in the fight when he comes up and starts to tell me how great it is to be a vampire. For a second I think I might have actually believed him. Then a crowd came through and he got pushed on my stake. I had to kill him."
The man nodded. He knew what it was like to have to kill vampires who he had previously known. "What was his name?"
Xander smiled a little. "Jesse. What were your parents' names?"
The stranger grinned. "Mom and Dad."
Xander chuckled. He was glad that someone was together enough to make jokes. It makes things easier to deal with.
He looked back to the road to see Sunnydale High come up. The man pulled alongside a school bus infront of the school. The roof slided forward with its resonant 'whoosh.' Xander jumped out of the car. "Do you have any swords?"
The masked man jumped out of the car and walked towards the back, he reappeared infront of Xander with two swords. He held a long silver katana, and handed a German style broadsword to Xander.
As they walked toward the entrance, the man spoke to Xander. "Normally I would have a problem with killing people."
Xander looked back at him. "These things are neither alive nor people."
The man smiled as he pushed one of the doors open and walked in. "Hence why I don't have a problem."
I dedicate this story to my fiancée who puts up with all of the crap I put her through.
Buffy/Batman Crossover
Summary: Xander meets a kindred spirit.
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.
Updated A/N: Thanks everyone that has reviewed and read the story so far. Anyway, to clear up any confusion as to the storyline: The first two chapters take place before "Dirty Girls" while the third chapter is broken into two parts, the first is set before "Dirty Girls," and the second half is set after. Xander didn't leave the hospital with Willow, but left when Bringers tried to kill him and Bruce Wayne. (For anyone who hasn't read the story, that might sound a bit odd) Afterwards Xander goes to the Summers' house to find it blown up (the bomb that faith found), and lost it when he fought some more Bringers. Buffy didn't kill Caleb. And now the dynamic duo is on their way to Sunnydale high to confront the First Evil and Caleb. My fantastic beta reader, also known as the most intelligent and beautiful woman on the face of the earth, who you all can call my fiancée beta read this and decided that it was, and I quote, "Okay." So here you go, please read and review.
A/N2: ok guys, this is a repost. I am not an English major. I personally doubt that I ever have or ever will use entirely correct grammar. I am a stupid, stupid man. My fiancé was sure to remind me of that. When I reminded her that she 'checked' the chapter I somehow lost the argument. Also Batman did have a sense of humor, his is usually the very dry, sarcastic kind.
/////////////////////// Main Street, Sunnydale
Xander looked out of the window. It was almost surreal. The buildings, cars, benches, trees were all there, but there was no one around. When they first started on their way to the high school, he almost thought that it was an optical illusion. Everything looked so flat and uneven, and to top it off, there wasn't a living soul in sight. 'Or an undead one either.' He thought. He looked back at the dashboard. Little buttons and lights were flashing on and off. It was a little hypnotizing especially the big red button off to the side. He wondered what would happen.
"Don't press that one."
Xander looked at the stranger again. Another one of his 'optical illusions.' A strangely frightening man in a Halloween costume that drove a car that looked like it was stolen from a movie back lot. 'God,' he thought to himself, 'I thought algebra was confusing.'
The man noticed Xander looking at him for a minute. He could feel the tension and anger stat to ebb down from him. It was how he expected Xander to react after going out of control. He would start to make jokes in his head and try to distract himself from what had happened earlier. Nobody likes to admit that they have a dark side. Xander, for all of his compassion and love and devotion to his friends also had as much anger. He thought that he could always control it. After leaving his bride at the altar and trying to act against what he had seen in his childhood, the man mused that Xander was truly frightened of that part of himself. The man knew how he felt. But he also knew that you have to recognize it, accept it, and embrace it in order to really control it.
"Where is everyone?"
The man was brought out of his train of thought by the question. "They all left, except for a few who were at the hospital and other emergency services, but I suspect that they'll leave soon."
"Why?"
The man kept an eye on the road. "Can't you feel that?"
Xander nodded.
The man continued. "All living things have a sense about danger. Have you ever noticed or heard about animals leaving before an earthquake or a storm. The greater a disaster, the stronger that sense is felt and the more people believe it. It seems that many people in Sunnydale knew about what goes on when the sun went down." He turned to face Xander. "Only a few actually stood up against the night. But now everyone has that feeling and its so strong that either the incredibly stupid or incredibly brave are staying."
Xander smiled. "Which one are we?"
The man smirked back "That remains to be seen."
Xander looked back outside as they passed the Bronze. Memories of everything that happened started to flow back. He turned back to face the men. "Do you know if anyone made it out of the house?"
The man was waiting for that question. "I don't know. From what I could tell, there were no bodies at the scene, and the explosion happened not that long ago, so I really can't say who was there and who made it out."
Xander was expecting that answer. "Yeah, I know, you can hope though right?"
The man tried to give him a little smile. "Right."
Xander looked back out of the window. They were all survivors. Buffy, Willow, Dawn, Giles, Faith, Anya, hell even Wood, Spike, and the rest of the girls. Strait all down the line they were survivors. Even as he tried to build some hope back up there was a large nagging feeling in the back of his head and the pit of his soul. They didn't make it. As much as he knew that they were alive, he knew that they were dead.
The man watched as Xander tried to gather himself. He knew it was hard. He had been there before. He thought back to the day when he lost his apprentice to the forces of darkness. It clouded his mind and turned him against himself. He blamed himself for so long, and still did a little. He knew that the guilt would probably never go away. He had accepted that. The same was happening to Xander, only they kicked the all of the legs out from under him, but didn't leave him the ability to have peace of mind.
Back and forth, back and forth, Xander couldn't bring himself to make a decision. Dead or alive. Lost or found. He couldn't choose. If he acknowledged that they were dead, he knew in his heart that he would never find them. If he believed that they were alive, he would only lead himself on blind hope only to find that they were really and truly dead. 'Dammit Xander, quit being such a fucking wuss.' He could hear his father start to talk in his mind. 'Any friends that you'll get, they'll leave. You just aint good enough.' For years he believed what his dad had said. First he wasn't good enough for the popular kids, later he wasn't good enough to help with the slaying, now he wasn't good enough to save his friends. He had been to so many peoples' funerals in the past 23 years. Kendra, Tara, Ms. Calendar, Jesse, they were all dead. Even before he was introduced to vampires, there were people missing from school every day, friends, family, acquaintances, they were all gone. He could have done something then and he could have done something now.
"I know what youre thinking."
Xander looked up at the man like he was a three-headed goat. "What the hell are you talking about?"
The man looked over at Xander as he continued to drive. "Think that youre the only one that lost people?"
Xander kept quiet.
"Everyone looses people Xander, its part of life, regardless of what you can do. I lost my parents, both of them. In one second my life was turned around. I was just a nine-year-old kid when I saw the dead bodies of the two people I loved the most in the world die on the sidewalk. They were my entire family, and I lost them in a split second. That's how I was introduced into this world, by loosing my mother and father."
Xander looked the man in the face. "Demon?"
The man shook his head. "Like I said, most of the time I deal with the evils of the 'human' variety. Most demons have an excuse; they don't know any better. People are different. People have souls. I have seen things that humans will do to each other that would make demons disgusted."
Xander remained silent, taking in what the man said.
"Who did you lose Xander?"
"Everyone."
The man knew that this was still a touchy subject, but went a little further. "Who was the first?"
Xander sighed. He felt guilty. It had been a while since he thought about him. "My best friend growing up, he was a great guy. He got turned the day I met Buffy, the slayer. He came back for a ritual called 'the Harvest.'"
"A ritual used to strengthen master vampires."
"That's the one. I came with Buffy and tried to help out in the fight when he comes up and starts to tell me how great it is to be a vampire. For a second I think I might have actually believed him. Then a crowd came through and he got pushed on my stake. I had to kill him."
The man nodded. He knew what it was like to have to kill vampires who he had previously known. "What was his name?"
Xander smiled a little. "Jesse. What were your parents' names?"
The stranger grinned. "Mom and Dad."
Xander chuckled. He was glad that someone was together enough to make jokes. It makes things easier to deal with.
He looked back to the road to see Sunnydale High come up. The man pulled alongside a school bus infront of the school. The roof slided forward with its resonant 'whoosh.' Xander jumped out of the car. "Do you have any swords?"
The masked man jumped out of the car and walked towards the back, he reappeared infront of Xander with two swords. He held a long silver katana, and handed a German style broadsword to Xander.
As they walked toward the entrance, the man spoke to Xander. "Normally I would have a problem with killing people."
Xander looked back at him. "These things are neither alive nor people."
The man smiled as he pushed one of the doors open and walked in. "Hence why I don't have a problem."