12 CH.12

With Halloween just around the corner, Ryan wanted to do something special so he did a lot of research and came up with the idea of a superhero-themed party. It totally had nothing to do with wanting Willow in a Blackwidow themed costume, totally. He confirmed nodding to himself.

He had the bronze send out fliers saying: Superhero and Heroine Party at The Bronze admittance must be a Hero as Next year's theme will be Villains. Costumes Will Be Checked at the Door. Drinks will be themed from the Dc and Marvel universe. Drinks are free for those that know their costumes famous saying.

When the school got wind of this for some reason Jonathan and Andrew became famous as if by magic. Everyone was waiting to ask them their superheroes lines and giving them suggestions on who they should be.

When Andrew tried to tell Willow to be Wonder Woman Ryan walked up behind him and picked him up by one hand and set him down saying:" Worry about your own costume before others."

Gulping audibly he nodded and skedaddle over to Jonathan's side. When he saw this Jonathan apologized for him saying:" I'm sure he meant nothing by it but I apologize in his stead."

Laughing Ryan said: "I don't mind it wasn't that I'm mad it's that I have my own ideas for mine and her costumes and I didn't want him giving her an idea she would get attached to."

Laughing with him now both Jonathan and Andrew shook their heads leaving to go make their own preparations. When he turned back to Willow he gave her an innocent little smile that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

They went to the library to find Giles and the rest of their little group. When they arrived they heard moans coming from the office. Turning about to leave and give them privacy they were stopped by Jenny saying:" It's not what you think! Rupert here was getting stiff and I decided to help him by giving him a message."

Hearing this Ryan and Willow broke out in fits of laughter while Giles spluttered and tried to explain:" You see I was getting... I was feeling... I am an adult and as such you will not make lite of my... Stop laughing, please."

Almost in tears now even Jenny had a wide grin saying: " Oh lighten up Rupert your talking to the guy that gave us the kama sutra book as a gift."

Hearing this Ryan told them:" Speaking of which if you find any new positions not already in the book please let me know I'd like to expand my knowledge in this subject. What why are you staring at me like that?"

Willow and Giles both went beet red and looked away while Jenny was looking at him like he grew an extra head before breaking out in laughter" Sure why not though I won't go into detail as to spare Giles a heart attack."

Nodding wisely Ryan looked at Giles for a minute and asked: " You're not having heart troubles, are you? I don't want to end up giving you CPR I don't think I'd be able to kiss you and look at you the same ever again."

Everyone lost their marbles at this point. Even Giles as stoic as he is let out a barking laugh before assuring him it won't be necessary.

While everyone was calming down Buffy and Xander came in followed by Cordelia. Noticing them out of breath from laughing Xander asked: "Did I miss something or is Giles having a heart attack?"

Hearing this all four of the red-faced group burst out in another laughing fit. When Giles started again that he was most assuredly not having a heart attack, Ryan told them:" It was an inside joke you would've had to been here before to understand."

Jenny still smiled turned to Giles saying: "I'll see you later tonight Rupert, we have some book research to finish."

Nodding vigorously and ignoring Ryan smirk and Willows blush he said: " I'll have the wine chilled and awaiting your arrival."

Even Buffy blushed at this remembering what came with the wine. Returning to there usual calm the group sat down and listened to Giles say how demons hated Halloween because it was too tacky for them to attack then. The group turned to their usual banter about how they were being forced to take kids trick or treating.

Ryan spoke up at this:" While I sympathize with you I got out of it on account of my grades and mentioning I'm working on patents with Willow all night and how it reflects on the school to have students with so many before they even graduate. The principal thought it was great publicity so he let both of us off with the promise that I mention how good he is in any future interview I do. Oh and I mentioned to him that Xander here has work starting his own construction company with my uncle Lyndsey's help, so he's exempt from all future after school activities so long as he doesn't start openly making trouble in school. Sorry, Buffy and Cordelia, I tried to make an excuse for you but he insisted that if I don't have absolute proof that you're doing something along those lines he wouldn't let you off so..." "I understand at least you tried." Buffy said mournfully.

Ryan looked at her like she was stupid and Willow spoke for him. " He was going to say that he started a company of health care products under Cordelia's name and you were given a bunch of dojo's with the promise that one would be opening within the year. But that until then you were going to have to start signing patents with us because Snyder would take a promissory note. By the way be prepared for hand cramps, he never just makes one."

Smiling Ryan pulled out a stack he'd been working on since the beginning of the year. A little over fifty. Ranging from light weight body armor using spider silk and the proprietary technologies to produce said silk in mass to clean energy by pulling the pollutants out of the air and letting out clean H2O.

By the time Buffy was done signing papers even her slayer healing didn't stop the hand cramps. The last bell rang for them to leave ten minutes later. Even Ryan felt kind of bad.

He typed most of the papers and it took him two whole months, she had an hour straight of nothing but signing her name while listening to Cordelia gloat about how she now owned a company.

Since Ryan paid her dads debt to the IRS, the reason she ended up agreeing to a date with Xander, she finally got a real gift from him without any drawbacks or so she thought until Ryan pulled out an ungodly amount of paperwork he had Lyndsey fax over to Giles office. Because he sure as hell wasn't going to fit it all in his car.

He told her it all had to be done by the end of the month or Snyder was going to volunteer her for every after school program until the end of their senior year.

When he saw this Xander shivered then laughed his ass off saying:" Feel my pain, that's about half the amount of paperwork I do before each building project even starts! You want to play with the grown-ups, Cordy, then this is just the beginning."

Swearing that she was going to hire someone to do the paperwork for her she got to work alongside Buffy until said bell rang. Giles helped her find a place in his office for all the paperwork then went off to chill the wine.

Leaving, the group headed to the parking lot. Xander took Cordy as not all of them would fit in the car. Following Xander's truck, they all went to Ethan's costume shop.

On the way there Ryan listened about how Buffy wanted to dress like an eighteenth-century woman to try and please Angel when he heard this he spoke up.

" Buffy, in my opinion when you live as long as Angel has you've pretty much seen it all. He most likely doesn't want some airhead noble women. I believe he wants a strong and independent woman that could stand as his equal in things. Someone to share the burden of his existence with. Not some whiny girl that hides behind his back looking for a protector."

Hearing him they both went quiet. He could tell he got through to them on a deep level because he could see Willows necklace lightening by several shades. Smiling at the sight he held her hand and continued the drive in silence.

--Elsewhere a psychotic female vampire was having a vision of a helpless damsel in distress wondering around at the bronze.--

When they arrived at the shop, Cordelia was complaining about her already having a catsuit she ordered from party town when Xander comented:" The bronze is having a superhero-themed party only and you can't get in without a hero costume."

She rebutted:" Well that's crap now I have nothing to wear! I should demand the bronzes owner pay for my costume!"

Xander laughed and said:" Well here's your chance he's pulling up behind us!"

They watched as Ryan pulled up and parked. When he got out Cordelia went over to him and demanded:" The least you could do to make up for ruining my costume plans is buying me a new one!"

He looked at her funny then looked over Xander as he explained:" Cordy here rented a cat costume from party town and since it's not a hero cat she needs a new one to get in the bronze."

Laughing and shaking his head Ryan said: "Sure why not? Though you're not being black widow! That one's already taken."

Cordy went inside while saying " Whatever."

When they saw the insides were almost empty, Ryan went to the cashier and said: "The names Ryan Titan, is my order ready?"

The cashier replied: " Ethan Rayne and its in the back. Your welcome to shop around for any additional costumes you may need."

Nodding they looked around. Finding a black duster and an eye patch they managed to come together a full Nicholas Fury costume for Xander. After a long search, they pulled a cat-woman costume out for Cordy. And finally Buffy settled on the Powergirl costume.

When they went to the counter to pay, Ethan pulled out two black suit cover bags and tallied up the price commenting:" You know that's the last of my superhero costumes, they've been selling like mad all day."

Laughing Ryan told him:" That's sort of my fault, I'm hosting a superhero costume party at the bronze tonight. Only heroes are able to get in because next year it's going to be villains. You know if you have one more your welcome to join us there when you close up. It's open bar to anyone who can say their hero's famous lines."

Sighing Ethan said:" I'm afraid I'll have to decline. I'm busy with my own thing tonight though I do appreciate the offer."

"No problem offer still stands, I'll let the doorman know to expect you if you decide to show up out of costume as well since I put you to so much work." Ryan replied feeling kind of bad when he saw the empty shelves in the superhero aisle giving a stark contrast to the almost full aisles everywhere else.

Thinking to himself next year will be the opposite as well. Nodding Ethan thanked him again and wished them an exciting Halloween.

Sometime later they finished getting dressed. Ryan ended up surprising them when he showed up as the Bruce banner complete with purple stretch pants, lab coat over top and a pair of glasses that when warn make his eyes look glowing green.