Teenage Mutant Ninja Tales

[madimpossibledreamer]

Main Points:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Iron Man Crossover (Self-Made Hero)
Summary: Xander (Paladin) takes out Krista (Warwolf) for her first mission.
Word Count: 422
Rating: Gen

        “Wolves don’t fly, you idiot,” the thug hisses as the white and teal hulking suit descends.
        “Well, maybe you just don’t have enough imagination, because I can guarantee you there are a lot of things you don’t think about which is why you’re so cliché—” she responds, and is interrupted by a gauntleted fist punching the man in the jaw and knocking him out.
        “I get that you’re enjoying yourself but we’re not here to chat with the minions,” Paladin tells her, voice modulated, and despite that she thinks she can hear the amusement in his voice.
        “Hey, your least favorite Slayer cleared me.”  It’s probably not the best way to say it, but given that he doesn’t flinch, she hasn’t messed up.  “Besides, isn’t quipping an essential part of the fight?”
        Armored shoulders shrug, but he doesn’t glance in her direction—probably keeping an eye on her through the monitors in the suit.  “You’re talking to Mr. Stealth, you know.  I mean, there have been Paladin sightings, now, so I can slightly step out of the shadows, but you’re talking to the guy who didn’t step outside until I knew my stealth functions were functional.”
        She pouts.  “Aww, you’re no fun, bo—I mean, Paladin.”  She doesn’t have to see him roll his eyes.  That’s what her secretary senses are for.  “I’ve heard a few of the stories of your strictly Exoskel days.”
        “That’s a little less in yo’ face than a full armor suit.  Easier for people to ignore evidence,” he responds.  They walk in silence for a little ways before he breaks it again.  Probably not on board with the whole ‘stealth first’ thing he’s trying to show her, but whatever.  She’s not buying the whole ‘not a showoff’ thing.  He’s not all the time, but he definitely can’t argue he isn’t ever.  “You know, this smells nostalgic.”
        Inside the suit, she wrinkles her nose.  “You’re kidding me.”
        “You have no idea how much time I spent in sewers as a kid.  Sunnydale was a weird town,” he replies slightly wistfully.  “Of course, I’m blocking most of it with the filters.  I’m not an idiot.  And I kinda favor disposing of these suits in an incendiary way after this mission.  It’s a little wasteful but it’s not like I can’t afford it.”
        “Nah, we clean ‘em and use ‘em for only the dirtiest jobs.”  She pauses, then, because she’s noticed he enjoys puns, adds,  “Done at a reasonable price?”
        As expected, he snorts, undignified, and nods in agreement.