druffine | 3 Inches

I am completely surprised. Thanks for all the comments. Here is another part as promised. Hope you enjoy to read it.

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vampirellabites
*hugs and cuddles you*

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mygothangel
thanks to both of you, hugs!

previous parts

From the living room table Spike can hear Xander rummaging around. He’s putting stuff in the kitchen and bathroom, and then he comes through the living room and goes to the bedroom. His bright clothes disappear one piece after another in the big cupboard. The last items from his duffel bag, some comic books and CD’s are put down on the sideboard. The empty duffel bag disappears as the last thing into the sideboard in the small hall.

Xander’s moved in, Spike realizes. No basement anymore. Never again. The vampire didn’t comprehend before exactly what that meant. Another asylum gone. He seems to remember exactly all the times he went to the whelp to watch TV, grab some blood, beer or food, annoy the boy, hang out with him, even, have some good times with him, bickering about pretty much everything and what’s on telly.

Patiently, Spike waits for Xander to settle down on the couch. The shrunken vampire feels strangely exposed on the clear surface of the coffee table. To him the table is the size of a baseball field and he is the only person on it. It makes him feel even smaller.

Xander watches the little creature with newfound amazement. Never could he have imagined Spike this small. The vampire always seemed larger than life. The attitude and the duster always made Xander feel small whenever they met even if Xander was bodily superior. The power and enthusiasm combined in the vampire’s supernatural appearance always impressed the youth. Now Xander can only feel respect and empathy for the new friend in need.

The eerie silence in the apartment gives Spike major wiggings. To disturb it, Spike attempts a conversation.
“So, when do you expect the rest of the gang here?”
Obviously dragged out of deep thoughts, Xander answers with a distracted: “Who?”
“Your mates? Red, Slayer, Watcher…”
“Oh.” Frowning, Xander ponders how to answer that question. Finally he comes to a conclusion. “Didn’t tell them about this.” Xander gestures to the environment and avoids looking at Spike.

Frowning, Spike paces on the table. As long as he keeps moving he doesn’t feel as much of a target.
“Is there a reason?”
“For what?”
“A reason why you didn’t tell them?”
“They didn’t ask.” Xander says, face emotionless.
Slowly, Spike nods, more to himself than to Xander since the boy seems very busy observing his fingernails.

More long silent minutes go by, neither of them seems to know what to say. Spike curses inwardly about the absence of a telly. Would have at least been a distraction.

Finally, Xander gets to his feet, stands thinking, undecided.
“You need to get back down?” Spike breaks the silence, indicates “back down” with his head as downstairs. Xander nods.
With an intense onslaught of fear, Spike realizes he doesn’t want to be alone in the apartment, doesn’t want to be alone at all being this size. He feels completely helpless to defend himself.
“Can I go with you?” he asks finally, all the pride he possesses forgotten. Xander crouches down and looks intently at the vampire. “I am gonna kill you if you laugh or make nasty comments. Understood?” Xander says with an icy voice and Spike wonders again just what other sides of the youth are still hidden from him and probably from the rest of the Scoobies.
“Wouldn’t dare to, mate.” Spike answers and earns himself a smile from Xander.

Moments later, Xander helps the three-inches-tall vampire climb back into the breast pocket of his shirt and together they make their way downstairs into the backroom with those wooden toys that Spike had seen earlier.

Xander goes over to the big workbench and sets Spike down on it.
For some time, Spike looks around wide-eyed. He can’t believe what his eyes are seeing. Everything around him is, again, in his size. There are tables, stools, chairs, sofas, beds, kitchen cupboards, dressers and even a tub in different states of readiness. With a look at the youth’s worried face, Spike goes over to a recliner in his size. Spike touches the armrest made of dark wood, he feels over the cream-coloured leather upholstery and then sinks down on the chair, delighted.

“Great, whelp, this is a treat!” Spike calls out and Xander lets go of his anxiety. He grins proudly and, suddenly, Spike fully understands. “You made this! You made this recliner and you made all the furniture, didn’t you?”
Xander nods enthusiastically.
“They’re great! And I’m not saying this because finally something fits me again. This is really good woodwork!” Spike praises and lets his hands glide over the wooden armrests again. “Bloody perfect!”
Grinning like a kid at Christmas, Xander asks Spike’s permission to show him more.
“Bring it on, mate. Guess you love having a test person.”
“Never dreamt of it.”
“Neither did I, whelp, neither did I.”

With patience and enthusiasm, Spike sits down or lays down on any piece of furniture Xander presents him. Cupboards and dressers, even deco pieces and mirrors are touched and praised by Spike. Soon, the vampire figures out the different collections made from different wood types. Of course, Spike likes the furniture made from dark heavy wood, mahogany, the most.

After Spike has seen pretty much every piece from the workbench, Xander lets Spike ride on his hand again and shows him various doll houses, tricycles, rocking horses, playpens, wooden play blocks and other items to make young children very happy. Spike is utterly amazed by the devotion and skill he can see Xander had given to every handmade piece. Spike doesn’t hold back on praise and Xander’s grin is soon so bright, it lightens the whole place.

“So, that’s what you do for a living, whelp?” Spike asks the boy, when he is settled back in the recliner on the workbench. Xander fiddles with a small piece of dark wood, he turns it in his hands again and again.
“My old boss from that carpentry company sent me to Broum’s shop to fix the front windows. Broum’s shop was attacked; the complete front area was destroyed. The customer service area, that big oak counter… everything was broken and turned over. I set up the windows first and saw Broum trying to set up the counter again. He couldn’t do it alone so I went in and helped him. He hired me for another week to help him clear out the shop and make it presentable again. After that week, he asked me to work for him, I agreed. That was about six months ago.” Xander shrugs, the abrasive paper in his hands lovingly sweeping over the little piece of wood.

“And how come you make toys?” Spike asks with real interest.
“No big story, Broum’s specialised in restoration of antique or at least old woodwork. We got some toys in from a museum, a dollhouse and a rocking horse from 1927. I loved restoring them, the museum director was unbelievably pleased with my work and I was asked to build replicas of old toys from photographs. Did a good job. The demand is high, Broum’s got orders for the next six months or so.” Xander grins proudly.

“And you learned to do this all from Broum?”
“Yeah, he showed me most of it. He’s a good teacher.”

“Don’t hide your light under a bushel all the time, toy-boy, you came with all the talent you needed already. The toys are your passion, all you needed was a little encouragement!” Broum says, a chuckle underlying his rich baritone voice. He makes no secret of him overhearing at least a part of the conversation between Xander and Spike. “This boy here is a genius. What he does with wood is enlightening. I am really glad I could get him to work for me. He’s gonna make all of us very rich.” Broum continues, patting a bright red Xander on the shoulder. “What are you working on now?”

“A foot stool to put in front of the recliner Spike’s sitting in. I still need to do a matching side table and standard lamp with a cream coloured lampshade by Garld for the set.” Xander explains.
“Well, the set isn’t due until next week, why don’t you concentrate on giving your friend here,” Broum points to Spike, “a nice place to stay in for the time being.”
Interest piqued, Spike sits up. “That’s a bloody great idea!”
Xander’s eyes light up and he nods excitedly. “I’d really love to! I could try some new things, modern things, if Spike wants…”
“Why not talk with him about the interior décor then?” Broum chuckles and leaves the workshop, taking one of the rocking horses with him to the front area.

Xander carefully sets down the piece of mahogany he was working on and then turns to Spike. “So, Big Bad, what’s your desire?” Xander raises an eyebrow and waits for the excited vampire to reply.

Unsure where to start, Spike hesitates for long moments until Xander helps him: “What do you think about deciding on a house first?” Xander puts out his hand so Spike can climb on it, then he goes over to the doll houses. “This one is the typical single house, two bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom. Big front windows and dormer windows. Well, I see why you don’t like this one.” Xander turns to another house, this one’s big with three floors. “Maybe this is more your taste, Spike, this one has a cellar, but maybe it’s too big altogether for just you.” Xander sighs and then pulls his hand up so he is eye to eye with Spike. “Guess, I’ll have to build you something fitting from the start, what do you think?”

Speechless, the shrunken vampire only nods.

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3 Inches - Part 7

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