Slash the Drabble

Written for the slashthedrabble for the unrequited love challenge. Although, this could be cateforized under the pairing you've never written before. So, yay me!

Part of this is from "The Replacement". Dialogue taken directly from the show is in italics. 200 words.

Replaced

“Hey, I'm well aware of how lucky I am. Like, lottery lucky. Buffy's like nobody else in the world. When I'm with her it's like ... it's like *I'm* split in two. Half of me is just ... on fire, going crazy if I'm not touching her. The other half ... is so still and peaceful ... just perfectly content. Just knows: this is the one. But she doesn't love me.”

The words hit Xander like a ton of bricks. He knows about loving someone who will never love you back. He’s been in love with someone, someone who will never love him back. Watched from the sidelines, hoping he would get the chance to say something, anything to get his love’s attention.

He saw the love and sadness in Riley’s eyes. He wanted to tell Riley that he was wrong, that Buffy did love him and they would live happily ever after.

But he knew it wasn’t true. Buffy didn’t love Riley like he loved her. She may have thought so, but her heart would never let go of what she was and who she’d had.

And Xander would watch him with same look Riley was giving Buffy now.