Title: Outcast
Author: Forsaken2003
Pairing: S/X
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I own none, all belong to Joss Whedon
Comments: Always welcomed!
Summary: Spike's always been an outcast, but maybe this once he won't be
Warnings/Spoilers: Season 5
Beta'd by: Unbeta'd

Prompt #454from tamingthemuse- Outcast

Note: From now on most of my tamingthemuse stories will be named as the challenge.

If there was a picture beside the definition of the word outcast it would be Spike's picture. He always was. Back in his human days no one really liked him, they put up with him because his mother had money. Not as much as others but enough for others to put up with him. When he was turned and joined the Order of Aurelius Spike thought things would be different. He was chosen and brought into the family. Spike was wrong. Besides Drusilla wanting him no one else did and they made it obvious.

Then there were the Scooby's. They didn't choose him. Spike had to go to them for help because of the bloody Initiative and the chip they shoved in his head. And the only reason they accepted him was because the slayer and watcher wanted information out of him about the organization. To use him, that was all Spike was good for. But the Initiative was gone and Spike was still there… helping them with virtually nothing in return.

If Spike had somewhere else to go he would have but he'd never been on his own before. He couldn't even go and make himself some minions to keep him company. He was alone.

Almost alone.

Xander was nice to him. He'd bring Spike blood and cigarettes sometimes. Not a lot but enough to last him a few days if he stretched them out. It was a small gesture that made Spike not think about killing himself as often as he used to.

Spike zoned out during research. He was there to beat up and kill demons not find out what kind of flowers they liked! He looked up to see Buffy, Willow and Xander making plans after research. They were probably going to head over to the Bronze and scarf down some greasy food and maybe some dancing. Things friends did together.

Spike let out a sigh. Hopefully his telly wasn't on the fritz. Dawson's Creek was on tonight. What a life Spike unlived. A shadow case over him and he involuntarily flinched back thinking it was the slayer with threats. When he looked up it was Xander standing over him. To protect himself Spike barked, "What?" His image was all he had left. He couldn't lose that.

"Oh! Um… well…" Xander became ruffled.

"Spit it out, whelp. I don't got all night." Spike said with a put upon sigh though he was curious why Xander was attempting to talk to him.

Xander looked around nervously before finally spewing it out. "I was wondering if you wanted to come to the Bronze with us. Wednesdays are usually slow so pool tables will be available."

"What do your friends think of this?" Spike asked cautiously. As much as he wanted to be included he didn't need the harassment from Buffy the rest of the night.

"Riley and Tara are meeting us there, so they will be preoccupied. You'd really be doing me a favor," Xander replied. "Honestly they probably won't even know you're there."

Spike didn't know how he felt about that. He was about to say no that he didn't care if Xander was left out but when he looked at Xander he suddenly realized that Xander wasn't asking for himself but as an excuse to have Spike come without making it look like that. Like Xander was trying to save him from embarrassment of needing to hang out with a human. "Fine, but you're buying me beer and onion blossoms."

With a smile Xander nodded. "Sounds good. But you have to let me win at least game of pool."

"Don't hold your breath on that!" Spike said with an amused snort.

"Let us just pack up and we can head out," Xander said before jogging back to his friends.

Spike stood up and pulled his duster on as he thought about what Xander just did for him. Maybe he wasn't as big of outcast as he had thought.

The End