Setting: My version of that priceless little conversation between Buffy, Willow and Tara at the beginning of ‘Crush’
Summary: Buffy’s true opinion of our hapless, bumpy friend.
Disclaimer: All owned by Joss, not me :]:]
Quasimodo
“I don’t see why he couldn’t have ended up with Esmeralda.” Willow grumbled as she strolled down the bright corridors of UC Sunnydale with her girlfriend and best friend at her side. “They could have had the wedding right there, beneath the very bell tower where he laboured thanklessly for all those years.” she sighed with romantic bliss at her own idea.
“No, it can’t end like that.” Tara said, apologetically bursting her girlfriend’s bubble, “Cos Quasimodo’s actions were selfishly motivated. He had no moral compass, no understanding of right.” she shook her head slightly, “Everything he did was out of love for a woman who would never love him. Also-” she smiled sheepishly as she added, “You can tell it’s not gonna be a happy ending when the main guy’s all bumpy.”
Willow frowned at her girlfriend’s answer, put-off slightly by her disagreement. “What do you think Buffy?” she asked, instead of arguing her point further.
The pretty blond looked up, amused by her friends’ conversation. “Quasimodo and Esmeralda: Buffy’s view?” she asked.
Willow nodded; “Starcrossed lovers or-”
“Out of his league?” finished Tara, sheepish smile back in place.
“Hmmm,” Buffy said, as if considering, “Well, to be honest, I think Esmeralda just had a stick up her ass.”
Willow’s eyes widened slightly, while Tara’s narrowed in thought.
“What makes you say that?” Tara asked.
“Well, Quasimodo tried really hard.” Buffy explained, her voice picking up a pitch with her argument, “He worked day and night, but did Esmeralda even notice? Nuh-uh. And so what if he didn’t know the difference between right and wrong? That wasn’t his fault, and at least he was trying. He wanted to be a good man; wanted to show her that he could be a good man. But she didn’t even see him; just accepted his help without thanks.”
“Exactly,” Willow agreed, nodding emphatically, “They were meant to be together. Would have been the perfect ending.”
But Buffy was already shaking her head, “No.” she said, almost sadly. “Maybe in the end; but Esmeralda would have to change. A lot. Because...” she blinked slightly as she realised, “Quasimodo was too good for her, she was just too self-involved to see the man he could be. Too blind to realise how perfect he was for her. And too self-absorbed to see beyond his... His ‘bumpy’-ness.”
“But she was everything he wanted,” Willow said, “Surly he deserved that.”
“He did.” Buffy agreed. “He deserved to be loved, because he made himself a man for her.”
There was silence for a moment, then Tara grabbed her soda from the vending machine and the moment was broken as the trio made there way out into the sunlight, their conversation swaying off-topic as Buffy began to swoon about the cute-ness of their English lecturer, causing her friends to giggle uncontrollably.
But several hours later, as a hapless man confessed his feelings to her; the desperation and hope evident in his eyes as he begged for a crumb of understanding... She remembered her words.
And nothing would ever be the same again.
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A/N: I always liked the little Quasimodo/Spike comparison thing :]:] Super-Cute. Please review...
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