The Steps of a Relationship
Aug. 12th, 2017 11:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
madimpossibledreamerMain Points:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Iron Man Crossover (Self-Made Hero)
Summary: Xander and Krista are on a vacation in the States and Kris runs into an old friend.
Word Count: 777
Rating: Gen
Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Iron Man Crossover (Self-Made Hero)
Summary: Xander and Krista are on a vacation in the States and Kris runs into an old friend.
Word Count: 777
Rating: Gen
They’re holding hands. That’s the most immediate thing Krista notices about the situation.
Xander’s blush could easily be mistaken for a reaction to the cold. He’s got a scarf that he’s practically nestling into, and a big old-fashioned overcoat, and somewhat large sunglasses. It’s kind of shocking that he can get away with that as a disguise, but then, she suspects he’s cheating and using his magic. Just a simple ‘don’t notice me’ spell, but effective enough.
The Christmas songs on the radio are still the same few you always hear, which drives her crazy, but she can listen contently right now, just because of one sweaty hand in hers. His other hand taps nervously on his thigh. He has trouble with crowds; he has problems sitting still and especially not doing anything with his hands, and yet he’s here, now, enduring it all just for her. Because even if it’s not something he enjoys, he’s still here, getting to do it with her.
She had tried to talk him into waiting in the car, but he’d refused with a smile.
“Kris! Krista!” She hears a voice behind her that she recognizes, and turns with a bright grin. Xander coughs and fades a little, letting go of her hand, but she runs up to Allie and hugs her, breathless. “You should’ve told me you were going to be in the US! We could’ve scheduled a meet-up or something.” Her piercing gaze glances over at the very awkward man standing next to her, and it takes but a few moments for her look to sharpen even further. “You’re Alexander Knight, CEO?”
He hunches a little. “Yep.” He pauses. “Um.”
“It’s all right if you don’t lie, since she hasn’t told me anything about you, either,” she laughs, and he relaxes a little.
He’s probably a little worried that his disguise was apparently completely useless, but it’s not like they’re drawing a crowd, and Allison was always one of the most perceptive of the ETC. He’ll be fine, as long as he stops panicking.
“Allison Draymond,” she says, and holds out her hand, and instantly he loses all his shyness, hands coming out of his pockets.
“Doctor Allison Draymond?” Instantly he’s shaking her hand with a lot of enthusiasm. “I bet you don’t get this often, but I love your work.”
She blinks. “You…like math.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Kinda hard not to, what with the whole engineering/computer science CEO thing.” He only lets her feel bad about her response for a bit before adding, “I’m also a big fan of the whole racetrack thing. With your dad? The papers didn’t focus on it heavily because, well, let’s be honest, the press is stupid, but I know you designed some of those cars.” He stuffs his hands back in his pockets, probably because the urge to touch nice new shiny is a little too overwhelming. “You didn’t tell me you knew Dr. Draymond,” he continues, speaking to Kris and even managing to sound a little offended about it.
She rolls her eyes. “I was still in the middle of trying to decide whether I should ask you to recruit her so I’d have a familiar face. How was I to know she was on your Acquisitions list?”
Allie glances between the two before understanding crosses her face, complete with a little teasing. “Krista, you’re dating the boss? Radical of you.” She turns a for once completely serious look on Xander, who’s a little intimidated. (Shows he has sense, Kris’s mind adds, amused.) “You hurt her, and I’m not the only powerful woman coming after you.”
He grins like a madman, which ticks her off.
“I’m serious. Do I need to give a demonstration?”
He waves that off, still looking a little manic. “Oh, trust me, I’m one of the last people on the whole entire planet to question the power of Woman. I’m just a little jazzed that I rate a Shovel Speech. It’s one of the important steps in a relationship.”
“Yes, he’s a little…eccentric, but he’s from the middle of nowhere, California. What do you expect?” Kris responds when that questioning gaze turns on her. “At least he’s my eccentric rich genius.”
“Well, I suppose it’s not like any of us would end up with anyone normal,” Allie concedes. “Please tell me you at least let Di know you were in the States.” At the pause, she takes out her phone. “That’s unacceptable. We’re calling her right now.”
“I have been talking to her more than the rest of you?” Kris mumbles, embarrassed, and Xander reaches out for her hand again, even though he’s still unusually quiet.
Xander’s blush could easily be mistaken for a reaction to the cold. He’s got a scarf that he’s practically nestling into, and a big old-fashioned overcoat, and somewhat large sunglasses. It’s kind of shocking that he can get away with that as a disguise, but then, she suspects he’s cheating and using his magic. Just a simple ‘don’t notice me’ spell, but effective enough.
The Christmas songs on the radio are still the same few you always hear, which drives her crazy, but she can listen contently right now, just because of one sweaty hand in hers. His other hand taps nervously on his thigh. He has trouble with crowds; he has problems sitting still and especially not doing anything with his hands, and yet he’s here, now, enduring it all just for her. Because even if it’s not something he enjoys, he’s still here, getting to do it with her.
She had tried to talk him into waiting in the car, but he’d refused with a smile.
“Kris! Krista!” She hears a voice behind her that she recognizes, and turns with a bright grin. Xander coughs and fades a little, letting go of her hand, but she runs up to Allie and hugs her, breathless. “You should’ve told me you were going to be in the US! We could’ve scheduled a meet-up or something.” Her piercing gaze glances over at the very awkward man standing next to her, and it takes but a few moments for her look to sharpen even further. “You’re Alexander Knight, CEO?”
He hunches a little. “Yep.” He pauses. “Um.”
“It’s all right if you don’t lie, since she hasn’t told me anything about you, either,” she laughs, and he relaxes a little.
He’s probably a little worried that his disguise was apparently completely useless, but it’s not like they’re drawing a crowd, and Allison was always one of the most perceptive of the ETC. He’ll be fine, as long as he stops panicking.
“Allison Draymond,” she says, and holds out her hand, and instantly he loses all his shyness, hands coming out of his pockets.
“Doctor Allison Draymond?” Instantly he’s shaking her hand with a lot of enthusiasm. “I bet you don’t get this often, but I love your work.”
She blinks. “You…like math.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Kinda hard not to, what with the whole engineering/computer science CEO thing.” He only lets her feel bad about her response for a bit before adding, “I’m also a big fan of the whole racetrack thing. With your dad? The papers didn’t focus on it heavily because, well, let’s be honest, the press is stupid, but I know you designed some of those cars.” He stuffs his hands back in his pockets, probably because the urge to touch nice new shiny is a little too overwhelming. “You didn’t tell me you knew Dr. Draymond,” he continues, speaking to Kris and even managing to sound a little offended about it.
She rolls her eyes. “I was still in the middle of trying to decide whether I should ask you to recruit her so I’d have a familiar face. How was I to know she was on your Acquisitions list?”
Allie glances between the two before understanding crosses her face, complete with a little teasing. “Krista, you’re dating the boss? Radical of you.” She turns a for once completely serious look on Xander, who’s a little intimidated. (Shows he has sense, Kris’s mind adds, amused.) “You hurt her, and I’m not the only powerful woman coming after you.”
He grins like a madman, which ticks her off.
“I’m serious. Do I need to give a demonstration?”
He waves that off, still looking a little manic. “Oh, trust me, I’m one of the last people on the whole entire planet to question the power of Woman. I’m just a little jazzed that I rate a Shovel Speech. It’s one of the important steps in a relationship.”
“Yes, he’s a little…eccentric, but he’s from the middle of nowhere, California. What do you expect?” Kris responds when that questioning gaze turns on her. “At least he’s my eccentric rich genius.”
“Well, I suppose it’s not like any of us would end up with anyone normal,” Allie concedes. “Please tell me you at least let Di know you were in the States.” At the pause, she takes out her phone. “That’s unacceptable. We’re calling her right now.”
“I have been talking to her more than the rest of you?” Kris mumbles, embarrassed, and Xander reaches out for her hand again, even though he’s still unusually quiet.
