Xander hobbled into the medical bay where Angel and the others were being kept. Two hours ago the vampire, along with Spike and a black guy named Gunn, had arrived at the rebuilt Council offices in London. They had been in a huge fight and they all needed help with their wounds.
Since Giles was in Ireland looking for a missing Kennedy, Xander was placed in charge of the trio's care. Gunn was in surgery and Angel had taken off so Xander was determined to find out what had happened from Spike. When he reached the vampire however he found him unconscious.
"God dammit," Xander muttered. "Spike. Spike wake up."
The vampire didn't respond. Xander turned away but stopped when he saw a small black object lying on the stand next to Spike's bed. His ipod.
Xander glanced around to see if anyone was around before he picked it up and turned it on. Instantly a picture of a very nude Sophie Howard filled the screen.
Xander laughed and went to the vamp's playlist.
There was the normal Spike stuff: Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Ramones, Dead Kennedys, etc. but there was also quite a few surprises: Men At Work, Duran Duran, and Warren Zevon to name a few. Xander then saw something that caught his eye; a second grouping of playlists that weren't by song or artist. It simply read:
Ahn
Andy
Buffy
Droopy
Fred
Gunn
Harm
Joyce
Lorne
Niblet
Peaches
Red
Rupert
Tara
Wes
Xander was shocked. He had created playlists for everyone. As much as he'd would've loved to know what the other playlists consisted of, he went straight to the one marked 'Droopy'.
The first song that came on was "Sidekick" by Rancid. Xander grimaced and changed the song. The next one wasn't much better. It was "Pinhead" by The Ramones. The list went on like this for awhile-"Loser" by 3 Doors Down, "Sugar, We're Going Down" by Fall Out Boy-all of the songs we're either about an ill-fated crush (Buffy he was assuming) or being a complete loser; sometimes both if he was lucky.
Until he got to the last one. It was "Hero" by Chad Kroeger. Xander stopped, not knowing how this song reminded Spike of him. It was more of an Angel or Buffy song.
"It fits you perfectly," a British voice spoke.
Xander jumped, nearly dropping the ipod. "What?"
"The song," Spike said. "I assume that you're listening to your list and by the look on your face it's Hero."
Xander looked at the ipod. "Yeah. Why?"
Spike rolled his eyes. "Oh come on Harris! Don't make me say it!"
Xander's confused look told Spike he would have to. "You are a hero, Xander. I may not like you but even I can see that. You've given everything-your life, your eye- to protect the ones you love. And you don't even have a damn power to aide you. Buffy maybe the Slayer, and Angel a Champion but it's you-Xander Harris-who is the true hero."
Xander was speechless. He wasn't expecting this. Especially from Spike. "I-"
"And don't think I'm being nice," Spike cut him off. "Cause I'm not. Angel sees it too. I bet you didn't know that when you lost your eye he and Wes visited you?"
"No. I didn't."
"Because believe or not they look up to you: a nobody whose there 'til the end. A Champion's champion."
Xander smiled. "Thanks, Spike."
The vampire groaned. "I'm only telling you this cause I'm drugged up and won't remember this in the morning. Now put on Angel's list I think you'll like it."
Xander did as he was told and laughed out. Xander went to speak to Spike but the vamp was already out. The young man smiled and walked out of the room singing along to the song. "I'm a soul man."