Title: An Easy Fix (1/1)
Author: Roxane
Feedback: Send to roxsedai@nycap.rr.com
Archive: Sure, take it…just
let me know where.
Spoilers: up to and
including The Gift.
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I own nothing, I make nothing, I WISH I were
Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy!
Summary: Me, I wonder things
sometimes. Like when the heck did Buffy
and the Bot change clothes? Here's my
little explanation. It bends the
timeline a little, but then I think you'd have to to make it work.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buffy
swiftly descended the steps into the basement of the Magic Shop.
"How's
it coming, Will?"
Willow
made one final adjustment and closed the back panel of Robot Buffy. She gave it a satisfied tap and smiled at
Buffy.
"All
done. I told you it was an easy fix."
Buffy
stepped in front of the robot, eyeing it with distaste. "How do you turn it on?"
"I
think you just have to say her name."
"You
mean my name."
"Yeah,
whatever." Willow stepped in front of
the robot. "Buffy."
The
Bot opened her eyes, and concern immediately filled them. "Where's Spike?"
She
made a move towards the stairs, and Buffy put one hand up to stop her. "He's fine.
We need your help."
The
Buffybot tried to sidestep her, but Buffy stayed in her path. "I have to find him. He was injured."
Buffy
grabbed the Bot's arm, making her stop.
"I said he's fine. Would you
listen for a minute?"
The
robot struggled, anguish covering her features. "He needs me."
Buffy
gritted her teeth and held on. "Willow,
go get Spike." Willow nodded and raced up the stairs. The Bot jerked in Buffy's hands.
"Would you calm down? He's
coming, okay?"
"But
– " The Buffybot's eyes lit up as she
looked at the top of the stairs.
"Spike!"
Spike
glanced from his Bot to Buffy's disapproving face and back as he came down the
stairs. "Hullo, luv. What's all the fuss?"
Buffy
let go and the Bot rushed to fling herself in Spike's arms. "You were hurt! I saw you bleeding!"
Spike
allowed her to hug him, patting her back in reassurance. "I'm all better, pet. You've been…asleep for a while now."
She
pulled back, her eyes anxiously scrutinizing him for any injuries. "Are you sure?" She ran her hands over his shoulders and chest.
Buffy
sighed forcefully and stepped forward.
"I don't have time for this.
Listen up. I need you to pretend
to be me."
Having
seen for herself that Spike was okay, the Bot stepped back and beamed at
Buffy. "I can do that."
"Well,
first you're going to have to stop with all the smiling. I've never been that happy."
"That's
because you've never been with Spike," the Buffybot said with a radiant smile
in Spike's direction.
Buffy
rolled a disgusted look at Spike, and he had the grace to look the slightest
bit ashamed, but that lasted only a moment before his natural cockiness
reasserted itself and he grinned wickedly at Buffy.
"You
should try it, love. Once you go Spike,
you never go back."
His
grin faded as Buffy ignored him and thrust a bag at the robot. "Here, put these on."
Buffybot
pulled shiny black pants and a matching jacket out of the bag, along with a
white shirt. "But I don't like
these. They're not at all feminine."
Buffy
stepped close to the robot and stared hard into her eyes. "Look, I'm not taking any chances here. Glory might remember what I was wearing."
The
bot's eyes widened. "Glory! But she's the one that hurt Spike."
Buffy
nodded grimly. "And she's going to hurt
him again if you don't get with the program and help us."
Buffybot
stared at Buffy, then squared her shoulders, a resolute expression on her face.
"Okay, what do I have to do?"
"You
just have to be me long enough to distract Glory." Buffy took the rubber band
out of her own hair and wound the robot's hair into the style she'd been wearing. She looked at Spike. "Fill her in and get her changed. I'm going to make sure everyone else is in
line."
He
nodded and watched her run up the stairs. He turned back to see the robot pull
her pink shirt over her head, and even though he'd seen it all before, his eyes
widened at seeing what was to all intents and purposes a bare, bouncing
Buffy. His conscience pricked at him
and he averted his eyes.
"You
should…get changed."
She
took the shirt but paused before putting it on, regarding him with large,
concerned eyes. "Why are we fighting
Glory? I don't want you to get hurt."
He
smiled fondly, putting one hand up to cup her cheek. "I'll be fine, luv. But
she's taken Dawn."
"Dawn! She's my sister." Buffybot scrambled to change into the clothes Buffy had
left. "We have to save her."
While
she changed, the Bot listened intently as Spike explained their plans to
her. He impressed upon her the need to
be as much like the other Buffy as possible, and she somberly accepted his
direction.
"Can
you do that?"
She
nodded. "I can do that."
He
smiled. "That's my girl."
She
smiled brilliantly back and stepped forward, wrapping her arms around him and
pressing her body against him. "I love
you, Spike."
He
held her close, breathing in the Buffy scent that clung to the clothes she was
wearing, savoring for a split second the idea that Buffy herself might say
those words to him. With a regretful
sigh, he gently nudged the Buffybot away from him.
"Okay,
pet, time to go. Are you ready?"
She
nodded. "Yes, I'm ready."
"Kick
her ass."
She
shone a thousand watt smile at him.
"I
will."
He
watched the Bot march up the stairs, part of him wondering why he hadn't just
taken her and run off when he had the chance, spending the rest of his unlife being
with her, loved by her, wanted by her. But, it wasn't Buffy. And he didn't want a substitute
anymore. With a huge sigh, he climbed
the stairs himself to follow his Buffy into battle.
The
End
