Buffy the Vampire Slayer Preferences + imagines/one shots

Xander - Comics

I don't know what's gotten into me. My school subjects bore me. Everything my dad says makes me want to cry. My clothes don't fit right. My stomach hurts. The only time I feel semi-okay is when the sun's vanished and I'm drifting off into a dreamless sleep.

Nothing happened. Nothing happens. I don't know why everything is disintegrating. Time slips through my fingers like sand and I don't like the way it feels on my feet. I can't explain what's going on because I don't know what's going on. 

The TV glows, the rest of my room a comfortable pitch-black. They look happy, on the screen. Fighting aliens and forming friendships like it's as easy as finishing a tub of ice cream by yourself. Speaking their minds like they have every syllable scripted and perfected (because they do).

Would it kill to have some excitement in my life? A new kid. A mysterious trail of footsteps. A mis-priced comic I could make a fortune of. Instead of reruns of B-movies, non-existent holidays and the lonely smell of instant noodles. 

After another long day at school, I end up in the local comic shop, scanning through the shelves to distract myself from a paper that is three weeks overdue. There are some old She-hulk comics that tempt me, but the glossy new releases also catch my eye. I thumb through the She-hulk one carefully, knowing it's the only one I can scrape to afford, but I might have it already.

"Cool, huh?" someone to the right of me says. 

I look up, confused. Was he talking to me?

"The new Inhumans comic you're looking at? Finished it yesterday."

"Oh." my voice is flat and I feel blood creeping into my cheeks, "Cool."

The guy doesn't seem to mind. He goes on, "Yeah, it was! It introduced this new Black Widow character, Yelena Belova. She's the second modern-era hero to use the name, so it's a bit confusing but she's super cool."  

I still don't understand why this guy is talking to me. He's tall, brunette and wearing a repulsive open button down over a white t-shirt. But his smile is kind. And he talks enthusiastically about comics. 

"I'm Xander."

He waves a little, although he's less than a metre away from me. I stare for a little longer than is polite, considering if this is some kind of joke and his mates are laughing somewhere nearby. But when his smile falters, I plaster a fake one on my own face and introduce myself.

He beams, extending a hand. Although I'm sure teenagers stopped handshaking in the 1800s, I take it. 

"What kind of comics do you like?" he asks.

It's such a weird feeling to have someone take an interest in my interests. Any friends I used to have didn't exactly encourage my "weird" hobbies. 

"I like She-hulk. She-ra. Batman is cool, too, obviously."

"Obviously!" he picks up two comics from a shelf, holding them up, "Who do you think would win in a fight: Batman or Superman?"

I find myself smiling. "Come on. Batman!"

"Eh, I'm not sure..." he says and then he launches into a well-thought-out, detailed comparison of the two superheros and I can't do anything except listen with (unfortunately) immense intrigue. 

I think I like this guy. I've not liked anything new in a long time, sticking to my safe shows and safe foods and safe house. When I was complaining about things never changing earlier... maybe part of that is down to me. But I think, for the first time in forever, that I might want to get to know someone new. 

"Sorry, am I blabbing?"

"Oh," although he is, I don't mind, "It's fine. And... you make a good case."

He looks satisfied. "Do you go to Sunnydale High? I've not seen you around."

"Yeah, I do. Eleventh grade."

"Me too!" he says excitedly, and I'm surprised - I don't think I've seen him before. "We should totally get lunch together tomorrow. Are you free to meet in the cafeteria at one?" 

I pause for a second, although I know I'm definitely available. Do I want to meet up with this guy I barely know? What if he has other friends? What if he doesn't show?

"I'm probably free." I say.

"Okay, cool. Hope to see you then!"

Everything might feel off, but Xander is pretty cool. He seems friendly and funny and although I'm still a bit wary (out of habit, more than anything), something tells me to try. To try and not let him slip through my fingers - to make the effort to be his friend, if he'll let me. This guy I barely knows feels like a tiny ray of hope. Something vibrant. Something warm. I hope that I'm right.

"Oh!" he says as he's about to leave, spinning around to point a finger gun at me, "You can borrow that Inhumans comic. I'll bring it tomorrow!"

I smile. I definitely have to see him tomorrow. The thought makes my stomach cramp with nerves but, oh well. I tell myself I'll meet up with him for the cool comic, but really, Xander is pretty cool himself.