Title: Ironclad (2/?)

Author: Cyclone

Feedback: Please be gentle.

Distribution: Gimme credit and a link. Plus, archived at http://fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=62966 or http://fanfiction.net/~cyclone

Rating: I'm gonna go say PG.

Spoilers: Up to season four and the Reign of the Supermen.

Disclaimer: The characters depicted herein belong to the almighty Joss and DC Comics. I'm just borrowing them for a while.

Summary: Sunnydale has a new hero. Sequel to Steel Knight and Shining Armor, Crimson Tears.

Author's Note: Blame Tenhawk and cobra_7422000 for this. With Red & Gold, Tenhawk gave me the idea, and Cobra suggested how I could do it. Also, aside from what's in The Return of Superman, all DC information in this 'fic will be drawn from the Batman/Superman animated series (and possibly modified slightly).

* * *

It was daytime, and a battle that should not have occurred in the brilliant sunlight was playing out, amidst taunts between the two combatants. It was obvious who was winning.

"You're a pig, Spike."

Spike opened his mouth to hurl another insult, but before he could speak, someone else broke in.

"I couldn't agree more."

Spike turned and blinked in surprise at the armored figure standing there, arm outstretched.

THOOMB!

A sharp pain ran up Spike's arm as the rivet pinned his arm to the wall, and he howled.

"Bloody hell!"

He glared at the interloper, and his eyes widened as Thor hefted the sledgehammer and he realized Thor's target.

"No... no, hell, no, you bloody bast- arrgh!"

Thor buried the hammer into the wall, crushing every bone in Spike's hand into fine powder.

Along with the Gem of Amara.

Spike howled again as he tore his arm free and started running. The sunlight -- a moment ago, so harmless -- was now a searing pain cloaking his entire body from head to toe.

But he was gonna make it. He was gonna make it. There was a sewer entrance not far from here, and he grinned as he saw it, even as the flames spread to engulf his entire body. Just a little farther...

"That's as far as you go," Thor said, landing in front of him.

"No, NO!"

Thor swing Mjölnir like a golf club and caught Spike under his chin, shattering his teeth and jaw and sending him flying backwards.

The last thing Spike saw was the sun, its rays stabbing into his eyes...

...before they, too, ignited.

* * *

Xander watched grimly as Spike flew through the air, screaming incoherently as he burned.

Nothing but dust hit the ground.

* * *

"So, you saw Thor again?" Xander asked. The four of them -- Buffy, Xander, Willow, and Oz -- were in Buffy and Willow's dorm room, listening as Buffy told them what happened.

"Yeah," Buffy said. "He saved me. I-if he hadn't been there, I don't know how I'd've gotten out of that mess."

"Spike's dead?" Oz asked.

"Yup," Buffy nodded.

"So you saw him die?" Xander prodded.

Buffy shrugged, "Well, no. But Thor says he is, and I trust Thor."

Willow frowned. There was something going on with Xander... what was it? Very strange.

"So, let me get this straight," Xander said. "You trust a guy you've met -- What? Twice? -- because he has good publicity?"

Buffy blushed and smacked him. "Xander, Superman trusts him, and that's good enough for me. Besides, he knows what I am, so whatever his source is, it's good."

"Hmm," Xander said. After a moment, he got up and said, "Y'know what? I'm gonna head home."

Willow frowned again. Yeah, there was _definitely_ something going on with Xander. Well, she'd have to look into that.

* * *

Xander was fiddling with the basement door when his father spoke.

"Son?"

He turned, "Dad."

The elder Harris closed his eyes, then opened them and said, "I saw the suit. And the rivet gun. And the stake launcher. John's designs?"

Xander swallowed hard and nodded, unsure how his father was going to react to this.

"I saw what you did in Metropolis," Anthony Harris said. "I just... I just want to say that... I'm proud of you, son."

"Thanks, Dad."

His father hesitated, then sighed, "You're gonna need someone to keep that suit working, A-... Xander, and I've got a few ideas for improving it." He held out his hand and asked awkwardly, "Can you forgive me?"

Xander hesitated, then shook his head, "I dunno, Dad. I know... I know what happened, Dad, but..." He closed his eyes and shook his head again.

Tony nodded, accepting that. "Well, will you at least let me help you?"

With a faint smile, Xander nodded and took his father's hand. "Sure, Dad."

"Oh, by the way, some girl claiming to be your girlfriend's waiting for you downstairs."

Xander blinked. "What girlfriend?"

"That's what I want to know," Tony said, then turned and headed upstairs.

Xander opened the basement door and climbed down the stairs, his gaze sweeping across his new room.

"Hello, Xander."

He stared in disbelief before he managed to sputter out her name.

"_Anya_?"

* * *

Author's Postscript:

Well, that was... cathartic. Nice to be able to just let loose and fry the bleached blonde bastard for once.