Not Absent-Minded, Just Distracted

[madimpossibledreamer]

Major presentation tomorrow, wish me luck, all!
Also, welcome to the new subscriber!
~Dreamer~

Main Points:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Iron Man Crossover (Self-Made Hero)
Summary: Xander may be many things but he's rarely quiet.
Word Count: 285
Rating: Gen

         When Xander comes to pick her and her friend up, she can tell something’s different.  He’s grinning at her, nothing held back, but his mind is a million miles away.  He’s just vacantly grinning and humming under his breath as he slips his hand in hers and begins walking.  He does take a moment to admire her outfit and say “Hello, beautiful.”  It’s not even flirting.  It’s too quiet and honest for that.
         The meeting must have gone well.
         She grins at her friend.  “It’s quiet.  Appreciate it while you can.”
         Xander pauses from stealing from Kris’s smoothie to pout.  “I’m not that bad.”
         “Uh, yeah, he is,” Henry laughs, taking a handful of Xander’s popcorn while he’s distracted.  “If he’s not talking, he’s got music or a program on.”
         Xander shrinks, and she can see the instant her teasing went too far.  “If you didn’t like it, why didn’t you say anything?”
         “I love you as you are, Xander.  That’s not to say that I’d ever want you to stop improving, because I love the man you are and the man you could be and no true friend would ever ask you to stay stagnant and not get better as a human being, nevermind someone you’re dating.  I’m the one who seeks you out in your office to do paperwork, remember?  It just makes me appreciate the quiet more.  Really, I should be thanking you.”  She snuggles up against his arm, and he blushes slightly, which is extra special because it’s actually decently hard to get him to blush.  Probably because he’s grown up with many versions of Tony Stark in his head, so he’s no doubt gotten used to it.  Still, he’s grinning.