Willow stood outside the door to the condo and took several deep breaths.
She was a little surprised to actually find herself here. Yes, it was her
plan to come, talk to this guy, find out why he hadn't called Buffy, but
ever since Oz had left her more daring plans often died before the
implementation stage.
But not this one. She was here, she was going to knock on the door, and she was going to get answers. Buffy deserved a nice guy, and this was the one she wanted, though how nice he could be if he hadn't bothered to call was something to be considered, and maybe he was actually some sort of serial killer or demon or something. Except Buffy would have sensed if he was a demon, she had known her roommate was, and—
And she needed to knock on the door or she'd be out here lost in mental babble until dark when a vampire made her dinner.
Okay, so just knock. Easy. Willow reached out and remembering Buffy's disappointment the night before knocked sharply on the door. And she could hear footsteps approaching too, which was a good sign except this person was practically stomping, and she wasn't sure if she could handle an angry someone right off the bat.
Then the door was open and, without even looking up she was off on her rampage. "You know I really don't understand guys like you! I mean a nice, pretty, smart, okay she doesn't always show it, but Buffy is smart, girl gives you her phone number and you don't even have the courtesy to call to say 'sorry, not really interested'. Does that make sense? I think not, and besides how do you know you're not interested if you don't even try, and honestly coffee, not a bad way to find out. Safe, noncommittal, public. What more do you want? What's the harm in a little cup of coffee? Okay, maybe not with me 'cause I get hyper and stuff, but Buffy, Buffy's a regular pro of a coffee drinker. So, you should ask her cause she wants you too, really, and I don't understand why you wouldn't."
Willow paused to take several deep breaths and looked up. What she saw was a rather tall, pale man with long black hair and a somewhat stunned expression on his face. He looked like he couldn't decide whether to frown, laugh, or shut the door in her face. More importantly he did not match the description Buffy had given of her dream man. Whoops.
Willow smiled sheepishly and blushed. "Um, I'm guessing your not Sirius Black, huh?"
"No," the man said, and Willow noticed he had a voice like hard candy. There was nothing soft in it, but it made your mouth water anyway. "I am not."
"Well, um, do you think you could give him my message? Tell him he should call Buffy." Willow was beginning to become uncomfortable as this man just kept staring at her like she was an interesting specimen or something. It made her nervous. "Though if he's all British like you, he could ask her for tea instead. I mean she doesn't really like tea much, but there's always cocoa. Does he like cocoa?"
"I have no idea. Will that be all?"
Willow swallowed. Mystery guy had decided on frowning it seemed, and he was really, really good at it. She should just go. She turned to do just that when she realized she was no closer to an answer than before she came here. This guy didn't seem inclined to pass along her message and she hadn't talked to Sirius. All of that humiliation really shouldn't be for nothing.
"Actually, no, I was—"
"Snape," a voice came from inside, "I think the microwave is broken. There's water everywhere. And who's at the door anyway?"
Willow almost laughed at the expression of pure exasperation that the man in front of her had on his face. It was the same look she'd seen on overburdened mothers when their kids ran wild in public places. It seemed completely out of place on this Snape guy. And that was an unfortunate name. Hopefully, it wasn't his first name. Though if he was like Giles his first name could be worse, and how exactly did a microwave flood anyway?
Only one way to find out. Willow called out to Snape, who was retreating inside. "May I come in?" He shot a withering glance over his shoulder, but she heard the second voice say, "If you know anything about microwaves, come on in."
So she did.
***
Snape was furious. What the bloody hell was Black thinking inviting this stranger, a muggle, inside? Especially when he had broken yet another appliance in his bid to 'help' with the housework. Severus had told him to leave everything alone, but no, he just had to experiment. Now they had a broken dishwasher, which he himself had never quite mastered, and a babbling girl who apparently knew something about microwaves. And wasn't it going to be fun trying to explain how Sirius could get the two confused! Or why he'd run the bloody machine with the door open in the first place.
At least the girl was quiet. What type of human being could speak like that? It was amazing...annoying. It was annoying. As was everything else about this assignment.
Well, this mess wasn't his problem. She came to see Black and he could explain everything. But, first, the dishwasher needed to be repaired.
Or shut off as he discovered as he made it to the kitchen. For some reason Black had turned it on while the door was still open. Severus shut it off and shut the door.
He glared at Black on the other side of the kitchen. "You know where the towels are. I'll be upstairs." And with that he stormed out.
***
Willow barely got out of the way as Snape turned on his heel and left the room. Was he always so cranky, or was it just her? Maybe her babbling got on his nerves?
Regardless she was now standing in a small puddle and looking at the man she'd come to see. "So, um, want help cleaning up?"
"Sure." The man responded, "I'm Sirius Black, by the way. You are?"
"Willow Rosenberg. Why don't you grab some towels and then you can tell me why you never called Buffy. And what the dishwasher had to do with the microwave." She added as an afterthought.
He nodded and dashed into a room she assumed was the bathroom. When he came out he tossed her a fluffy orange towel and started cleaning up with a lime green one of his own.
"So," Sirius said with a grin, "what order would you like those questions in? And I apologize if Severus was rude at all. He's just like that."
"Severus? I think I'd be rude with a name like that too. And I want to know why you didn't call Buffy first. I mean, I know it's a little rude barging in here and demanding answers and—"
"Not at all. She's obviously your friend and you care about her. Nothing wrong in that. Fact is, I couldn't get our phone to work. As you might have noticed we've been having some appliance trouble. Which is the answer to your other question actually. I misspoke. Everything has been breaking, and the microwave was the last one, and it was on the fritz for a while. So, when I called for Severus it just slipped out."
"Oh." Willow said. That all made sense. Sort of. "Well, is your phone working yet?"
"Not quite. Should be fixed in a few days. Would you tell Buffy I'm sorry to keep her waiting?"
"I could, or you could tell her yourself. She'll be at the Bronze tonight. You could meet her there. You could even bring your roommate so he wouldn't feel left out."
"Snape isn't really a social person. I doubt he'd want to come."
Willow nodded. That made sense, but she really didn't want this guy out at night alone. It just wasn't safe. Maybe Buffy could walk him home? But if something came up that might not be possible, and usually something came up. "Well, that may be but I think you should bring him anyway. There are some bad elements in the neighborhood, and company is good for walking at night. You are walking, right? I didn't see a car."
Sirius nodded. "If it makes you feel better I'll ask him. But, speaking of walking after dark, it's getting late, and if it's not safe..."
"Right, I should go. It was nice meeting you, Sirius."
"You too, Willow."
She walked to the door, but called after her, "Hey, Sirius, do you like hot chocolate?"
"Quite a bit, why?"
"No reason." She replied.
She walked home rather quickly. It wasn't so late that she was in danger, but she had to get back in time to convince Buffy to go to the Bronze tonight.
But not this one. She was here, she was going to knock on the door, and she was going to get answers. Buffy deserved a nice guy, and this was the one she wanted, though how nice he could be if he hadn't bothered to call was something to be considered, and maybe he was actually some sort of serial killer or demon or something. Except Buffy would have sensed if he was a demon, she had known her roommate was, and—
And she needed to knock on the door or she'd be out here lost in mental babble until dark when a vampire made her dinner.
Okay, so just knock. Easy. Willow reached out and remembering Buffy's disappointment the night before knocked sharply on the door. And she could hear footsteps approaching too, which was a good sign except this person was practically stomping, and she wasn't sure if she could handle an angry someone right off the bat.
Then the door was open and, without even looking up she was off on her rampage. "You know I really don't understand guys like you! I mean a nice, pretty, smart, okay she doesn't always show it, but Buffy is smart, girl gives you her phone number and you don't even have the courtesy to call to say 'sorry, not really interested'. Does that make sense? I think not, and besides how do you know you're not interested if you don't even try, and honestly coffee, not a bad way to find out. Safe, noncommittal, public. What more do you want? What's the harm in a little cup of coffee? Okay, maybe not with me 'cause I get hyper and stuff, but Buffy, Buffy's a regular pro of a coffee drinker. So, you should ask her cause she wants you too, really, and I don't understand why you wouldn't."
Willow paused to take several deep breaths and looked up. What she saw was a rather tall, pale man with long black hair and a somewhat stunned expression on his face. He looked like he couldn't decide whether to frown, laugh, or shut the door in her face. More importantly he did not match the description Buffy had given of her dream man. Whoops.
Willow smiled sheepishly and blushed. "Um, I'm guessing your not Sirius Black, huh?"
"No," the man said, and Willow noticed he had a voice like hard candy. There was nothing soft in it, but it made your mouth water anyway. "I am not."
"Well, um, do you think you could give him my message? Tell him he should call Buffy." Willow was beginning to become uncomfortable as this man just kept staring at her like she was an interesting specimen or something. It made her nervous. "Though if he's all British like you, he could ask her for tea instead. I mean she doesn't really like tea much, but there's always cocoa. Does he like cocoa?"
"I have no idea. Will that be all?"
Willow swallowed. Mystery guy had decided on frowning it seemed, and he was really, really good at it. She should just go. She turned to do just that when she realized she was no closer to an answer than before she came here. This guy didn't seem inclined to pass along her message and she hadn't talked to Sirius. All of that humiliation really shouldn't be for nothing.
"Actually, no, I was—"
"Snape," a voice came from inside, "I think the microwave is broken. There's water everywhere. And who's at the door anyway?"
Willow almost laughed at the expression of pure exasperation that the man in front of her had on his face. It was the same look she'd seen on overburdened mothers when their kids ran wild in public places. It seemed completely out of place on this Snape guy. And that was an unfortunate name. Hopefully, it wasn't his first name. Though if he was like Giles his first name could be worse, and how exactly did a microwave flood anyway?
Only one way to find out. Willow called out to Snape, who was retreating inside. "May I come in?" He shot a withering glance over his shoulder, but she heard the second voice say, "If you know anything about microwaves, come on in."
So she did.
***
Snape was furious. What the bloody hell was Black thinking inviting this stranger, a muggle, inside? Especially when he had broken yet another appliance in his bid to 'help' with the housework. Severus had told him to leave everything alone, but no, he just had to experiment. Now they had a broken dishwasher, which he himself had never quite mastered, and a babbling girl who apparently knew something about microwaves. And wasn't it going to be fun trying to explain how Sirius could get the two confused! Or why he'd run the bloody machine with the door open in the first place.
At least the girl was quiet. What type of human being could speak like that? It was amazing...annoying. It was annoying. As was everything else about this assignment.
Well, this mess wasn't his problem. She came to see Black and he could explain everything. But, first, the dishwasher needed to be repaired.
Or shut off as he discovered as he made it to the kitchen. For some reason Black had turned it on while the door was still open. Severus shut it off and shut the door.
He glared at Black on the other side of the kitchen. "You know where the towels are. I'll be upstairs." And with that he stormed out.
***
Willow barely got out of the way as Snape turned on his heel and left the room. Was he always so cranky, or was it just her? Maybe her babbling got on his nerves?
Regardless she was now standing in a small puddle and looking at the man she'd come to see. "So, um, want help cleaning up?"
"Sure." The man responded, "I'm Sirius Black, by the way. You are?"
"Willow Rosenberg. Why don't you grab some towels and then you can tell me why you never called Buffy. And what the dishwasher had to do with the microwave." She added as an afterthought.
He nodded and dashed into a room she assumed was the bathroom. When he came out he tossed her a fluffy orange towel and started cleaning up with a lime green one of his own.
"So," Sirius said with a grin, "what order would you like those questions in? And I apologize if Severus was rude at all. He's just like that."
"Severus? I think I'd be rude with a name like that too. And I want to know why you didn't call Buffy first. I mean, I know it's a little rude barging in here and demanding answers and—"
"Not at all. She's obviously your friend and you care about her. Nothing wrong in that. Fact is, I couldn't get our phone to work. As you might have noticed we've been having some appliance trouble. Which is the answer to your other question actually. I misspoke. Everything has been breaking, and the microwave was the last one, and it was on the fritz for a while. So, when I called for Severus it just slipped out."
"Oh." Willow said. That all made sense. Sort of. "Well, is your phone working yet?"
"Not quite. Should be fixed in a few days. Would you tell Buffy I'm sorry to keep her waiting?"
"I could, or you could tell her yourself. She'll be at the Bronze tonight. You could meet her there. You could even bring your roommate so he wouldn't feel left out."
"Snape isn't really a social person. I doubt he'd want to come."
Willow nodded. That made sense, but she really didn't want this guy out at night alone. It just wasn't safe. Maybe Buffy could walk him home? But if something came up that might not be possible, and usually something came up. "Well, that may be but I think you should bring him anyway. There are some bad elements in the neighborhood, and company is good for walking at night. You are walking, right? I didn't see a car."
Sirius nodded. "If it makes you feel better I'll ask him. But, speaking of walking after dark, it's getting late, and if it's not safe..."
"Right, I should go. It was nice meeting you, Sirius."
"You too, Willow."
She walked to the door, but called after her, "Hey, Sirius, do you like hot chocolate?"
"Quite a bit, why?"
"No reason." She replied.
She walked home rather quickly. It wasn't so late that she was in danger, but she had to get back in time to convince Buffy to go to the Bronze tonight.
