burn // buffy

amore di moloch

"So, have you heard about Malcolm?" Buffy asked, leaning against the row of lockers as she looked over at Matt.

"Malcolm?" Matt frowned as he tried to remember if he knew anybody by that name. "No, is he like, a new student or something?"

Buffy clicked her tongue. "Nope. He's Willow's new beau."

Matt raised an eyebrow, looking at Buffy as he groped around inside his backpack for a pen. "Willow's?" he asked, earning a nod in return. "Damn. Is he good?"

"Well, she seems to think so," Buffy told him. "He's nice, smart, likes her. Hits all the check boxes of any underappreciated nerd girl."

Matt smacked Buffy lightly on the arm. "Hey, be nice," he scolded her. "Now. This Malcolm guy. Where did Willow even meet him?"

"She didn't," Buffy said in a clipped tone. Matt frowned at her, confused, so she sighed an continued. "At least, not in person. They met on an internet chatroom."

"Ooh, romantic," Matt swooned into Buffy's shoulder. Buffy shoved him away, laughing at the sarcastic display. 

"Yeah, my thoughts exactly," Buffy said. "Like, I'm glad Willow's found someone who likes her, but it's the internet. He totally couldn't be who he says he is. And I just want Willow to be safe, you know?"

"Yeah, I got you," Matt agreed. He paused. "So, Malcolm, right?" 

"Yup," Buffy sighed. Matt closed his locker rather forcefully, already becoming lost in his thoughts. "I bet he's got some weird deal-breaker he isn't telling Willow about. Like back hair, or toe fungus."

"Gross," Matt winced, sending Buffy a look. The two made their way outside to where they noticed Xander speaking with none other than their electronically smitten Willow.

Matt took a moment to ponder Xander. Ever since Cordelia had found out about his deal with women, or lack thereof, she'd been trying to get him to figure out if he had a deal with men. He supposed Xander was good looking. He wore a lot of sweaters that hung, just a bit too big, off of his frame, giving him a sort of endearingly dorky look to him. He was funny, and kind, and earnest. Matt could see himself liking Xander. He could see anyone liking Xander, really, if they bothered to get past that obnoxious little obstacle called a social construct. He just wasn't sure that Xander hit home for him. 

Willow walked away from Xander just as Buffy and Matt arrived. "She certainly looks perky," Buffy observed, and Matt had to agree. Willow looked very excitable lately, and he was sure that it had everything to do with her little internet buddy.

"Yeah," Xander agreed. "Color in the cheeks, bounce in the step-" he paused to frown. "I don't like it. It's not healthy." Matt smirked at the other boy's reaction. Clearly, he was jealous. "So, are you going to the bronze tonight?" Xander asked Buffy. She had only begun to turn toward him, though, before he predicted her answer for her. "Oh, probably not. You probably have some vampire slaying or some lame endeavor like that, don't you?"

"Well hey, I can come," Matt offered, adjusting his grip on his backpack. Xander looked at him appreciatively. 

"Cool, just us two," Xander announced, bobbing his head up and down. "And nobody else." He sighed. "Gosh, everyone deserts me."

Buffy laughed as they began to walk. "Check out this jealous man," she said.

"What are you talking about?" Xander asked.

"You're jealous," Buffy repeated.

"Of what?"

"Willow and Malcolm~" Matt singsonged, poking Xander in the bicep. Xander swatted him away, and Matt leaned back, laughing gleefully.