Respect for the Fallen - August 5
Title: Respect for the Fallen
Author: LadyWinterlight (songs_of_winter)
Fandoms: Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Avengers/MCU
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 400 exactly
Notes: Slayers attend Tony Stark's funeral. May need a bit of a tissue warning. I kinda dashed this one off quickly because it's gonna be a super busy day so hopefully it's still at least worth reading.
I still do not own Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Avengers or anything to do with the MCU.
Buffy and Faith stood on the outskirts of the group, quietly observing Tony Stark’s memorial service. From what they’d overheard, a much more private ceremony had been held for close friends and family, but for the man who saved the world… they couldn’t not have something bigger and more public.
There were several other Slayers scattered around the crowds. They had all come to pay their respects to Stark, but Buffy had coordinated their presence as a secondary security measure. Sure, there were military, superheroes and plenty of police and service officers in the crowd… but for a lot of them, this goodbye was personal. They deserved the chance to grieve properly, and the Slayers were willing to step up in case of an unexpected attack. Just in case.
“At least you don’t have to get up there and talk, hey B?” Faith murmured, her tone caught somewhere between comforting and teasing. She knew Buffy would be carefully avoiding the idea of her own funeral, and all the past memorials for fallen Slayers would also be on her mind.
Buffy responded with a tight smile and a brief nod. “Could be worse, I know,” she murmured back after a moment.
Fortunately for everyone, it seemed no one wanted to take advantage of the gathering to attack. Maybe what remained of the Avengers’ enemies and rivals had decided to be grateful for Tony saving their lives along with the rest of the world. It wasn’t Apocalypse season, either; the demon underworld was laying low due to the resurgence of Slayer numbers. Even with the number of Slayers present here, they had more than enough teams patrolling around the world.
When the service ended, the Stark family and the remaining Avengers gave a single statement for the horde of press at the event and then all disappeared into several limos obviously hired for the occasion. Faith glanced around, watching the crowds disperse. “Come on, B,” she said lowly, linking her arm through her sister-slayer’s. “Time to blow this popsicle stand before we get noticed.”
“Yeah, we should go,” Buffy agreed, though her eyes were still focused on the memorial stone with its plaque.
“It’s done, Buffy,” Dawn soothed, coming up alongside her sister. “I promise, no one will be able to deny Stark his rest.”
Buffy nodded slowly. “I know. I trust you.” Buffy took a slow breath in. “Let’s go home.”