Title: You Suck Less Than Most Humans

Author: Forsaken2003

Pairing: S/X

Rating: PG13

Disclaimer: I own none, all belong to Joss Whedon

Comments: Always welcomed!

Summary: Spike tells Xander how he feels in a very Spike way.

Warnings/Spoilers: Season 5, no Anya.

Beta'd by: Unbeta'd

It was Valentine's Day and the gang decided to spend it at The Bronze. Xander didn't know why he came. He was solo, keeping his stomach full of wings as he watched his friends boogied the night away.

Spike appeared out of nowhere, dragging a chair closer to Xander before sitting down. "Going stag, eh? Good."

"Isn't it stupid to mock a guy for being single on Valentine's Day when you in fact are also single?" Xander said automatically becoming defensive. He didn't need Spike to remind him of what a loser his is.

"I might be single now but trust me I won't be for long. Neither will you," Spike said with confidence.

Xander bit into one of his wings. He'd have to order another round soon. "What are you a fortune teller now?"

"Call it a gut feeling." Spike waved his hand gaining the waitress's attention. "We are in need of another plate of wings, an onion blossom, a beer, and whatever the boy's drinking, ducks." Spike pulled out a wad of cash paying for it now with a generous tip.

"Who'd you rob today?" Xander asked his mind reeling for the fact that Spike just paid for his wings and his soda.

Spike pocketed his remaining money. "No one. I played kitten poker last night and it was a very good night. Feel free to order anything else, on me."

Xander was tempting to order everything on the menu but he knew how hard it was to make money so he decided against it. "I appreciate the offer but if you are planning on not being single by the end of the night shouldn't you go talk to someone else?"

"What if I told you, you were the one I was here for?" Spike asked. The waitress returned and he took a sip of his beer.

Xander somehow managed not to double over with laughter. How did Spike say that with a straight face? "That bored, huh?"

"I... like you," Spike admitted before taking a longer swallow of his beer. He had been working up to this moment for months.

"You like... me?" Xander asked. "Me? The one you always call stupid. The one you are always telling the others they don't need me?"

Spike tilted his head. He did say those things about Xander. Did he mean them? Of course he did, at first. "Need, deserve. More or less the same thing really."

The others didn't deserve him? That threw Xander for a loop. "What?"

"Look, you suck less than most humans. There is nothing special about you..." Spike saw Xander's face fall. "But that's what makes you special."

"That makes no sense." Spike had to be messing with Xander.

Spike ran a hand through his hair frustrated. "You're not special and yet you risk your neck every bloody day to save your friends and people you don't even know. Horrible people who probably deserve what they get. You just keep fighting for them though. Through the cuts, bruises and broken bones you always get back up." He paused. "I like you so much that I still like you when I'm hungry."

Xander's eyes widened at that. Spike was mean to begin with, you didn't want to be around him when he was hungry. "Really?"

"Said so, didn't I?"

"Do you like me enough to share your onion blossom with me?" Xander had his eye on it since it was placed in front of them. It looked extra greasy today. "I'll share my wings." He pushed the half eat plate of wings towards Spike.

The fact that Xander for the most part did not share food, Spike took this as a win. "Have as much as you want."

Xander pulled a piece off and shoved it in his mouth. "Want to play some pool after we eat?" he asked with his mouthful. "My quarter."

"I might even let you win."

Spike in fact did not let Xander win but they had such a good time Xander asked Spike to go to the movies with him the following weekend.

The End