Title: Out of Order
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Author: veronyxk84
Characters: Spike, Dawn
Rating: PG-13
Length: 300 (Google Docs)
Content notes: Some coarse language
Spoilers/Setting: Set between S5 and S6
Summary: Bad weather causes some trouble with the Buffybot
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction created for fun and no profit has been made. All rights belong to the respective owners.
Author notes: inspired by the scenes with the Buffybot malfunctioning in ep. 6x01 “Bargaining,” but set some time during the previous months.

Challenge: #428 - Rain

—

Dawn yelped when the front door was flung open and the Buffybot marched inside, walked straight into the wall in the foyer, and froze right there. Frowning, Dawn turned off the TV and set the bowl of popcorn on the coffee table, standing up in time to see Spike walk in as well, all flustered and dripping wet. “Soddin’ bint!” he barked at the unmoving robot as he closed the door.
“Spike, what happened?” asked Dawn while she tried unsuccessfully to make the Buffybot move from the wall.
“A vampire short-circuited the stupid robot by shoving it into a tombstone.”

At Dawn’s insistence, the Buffybot turned its head, revealing an opening on the side of its face with exposed wires. “There’s mustache in your shoe,” it blurted out, flashing a broad grin. “You’re my sister.”
Spike rolled his eyes. “The sodding rain got the circuits wet, made it all worse, and then Xander and Anya fled, leaving me to deal with the malfunctioning robot.”
“When I get jumbled I must go to Willow,” said the robot.
“Yeah, it kept repeating that while bumping into everything on its way,” said Spike. “I had to pick up all your neighbors’ toppled-over bins.”

“Willow programmed her like that. But she isn’t here now, she’s out with Tara,” explained Dawn, tugging the Buffybot toward the couch. “I’ll just turn her off, so she doesn’t… go bump into the night.”
Spike watched Dawn as she made the robot sit, then lifted the shirt at the back, and pressed a button behind a small lid. There was a short whirring sound before the robot went still.
“Will you be okay for a while?” asked Spike.
“Why? Where are you going?”
“To get some pizza. Popcorn ain’t dinner.”
Dawn grinned. “With extra anchovies?”
He nodded and left.