Luca didn't see them that often at first. He kept to his regular schedule, and the brothers kept to theirs. Sometimes Harper made it a point to come say hi before they started their nightly borrowing, Enzo always watching over him carefully. But other than that, life continued as usual.

But one day, Harper shyly approached him in the middle of the day. Luca smiled at him from over his laptop.

"Hey, little man," he greeted him. "What are you doing here?" He smiled at Enzo behind Harper, who reluctantly nodded back

Harper fidgeted and looked down at the ground before turning to Enzo and whispering something to him. Whatever he said, Enzo just shook his head.

"This was your idea," he told Harper. "So, you need to tell him."

Luca raised his eyebrows at that. What's all this about? he wondered. Harper looks nervous, and Enzo looks... grumpy? Oh, but that part's not out of the ordinary. He always looks grumpy. 

"Umm, Luca, it's my birthday tomorrow," Harper said, twisting the hem of his shirt in his hands. 

Luca snapped out of his thoughts. "Oh, really?" he exclaimed. "That's amazing! Happy birthday! How old are you turning?"

"Eight."

"Wow, look at you. You're practically an old man," Luca said, and Harper giggled.

"Are you doing something special to celebrate?" Luca added, wondering if Enzo would get mad at him if he offered to get Harper a little birthday cupcake.

"Umm... ummm... I was wondering... if..." Harper took a big breath. "If we could watch a movie with you tomorrow?" He looked at Luca's laptop. "Only if you're not busy."

Luca's heart melted. "Of course, bud," he said. "I'll be home from work around 5, so why don't you come out to the couch then, and we'll pick out a movie and everything."

Harper's little face lit up, and Luca glanced at Enzo, who gave one short nod.

"Ah, I'm going to the store a little later today," Luca added, secretly planning to get a package of mini cupcakes for Harper. "Do you guys need anything?"

They both shook their heads, and Luca nodded, waving at them as they turned to leave. He smiled at the way Harper turned to Enzo, tugging on his arm and hopping excitedly about how Luca had accepted his invitation. It was the cutest thing Luca had seen in a while.

Even Enzo had the ghost of a smile playing around his lips at Harper's happiness, though he kept turning his head back around to keep an eye on Luca.

Luca hurried home from work the next day. His coworkers all asked him why he was in such a rush, but he just brushed them off, saying something about helping a neighbor.

Once he was home, it was all birthday mode. The cupcake was a big hit. Harper's already big eyes widened even more, so much so that Luca could see the whites of his eyes. Enzo had no reaction, of course, but Luca was glad he had talked to Enzo the night before and gotten permission to give Harper something special. 

Enzo clearly didn't want to be out of the walls too long, so Luca started the movie as soon as both borrowers had eaten dinner. Harper bounced on the couch excitedly, and Luca couldn't help but chuckle, especially as his enthusiasm contrasted so sharply with Enzo's gloominess.

The movie began with Luca handing both borrowers little containers of popcorn. Enzo eyed his uneasily while Harper dug in immediately.

"No movie's complete without popcorn," Luca explained to Enzo, and that made the borrower gingerly try a piece.

Harper didn't eat much popcorn as his tiny face was still smeared with birthday cake. But he ate as much as he could and seemed absolutely blissed out the whole time.

Luca got the boy a damp paper towel to clean himself off, and then they all sat back to enjoy the movie Harper had chosen.

As they were watching, however, the most magical thing happened. Little Harper, who had been scooting closer and closer to Luca throughout the movie, eventually fell asleep against the side of Luca's leg.

Luca could barely feel Harper's tiny weight, and he hardly dared to breathe for fear of disturbing the small boy. 

Looking down, he happened to catch Enzo's dark eyes watching him closely, as if to make sure he didn't do anything.

And after that day, they started coming out of the walls more often, with Harper wanting to be picked up more and more.

It started out small at first: a lift up to the couch or onto the counter. But then, one day, Harper just wanted to be held.

"Harps, buddy, aren't you getting down?" Luca asked, holding his hand on the couch cushion as Harper had requested.

Harper just stared at the couch for a moment before turning to look up at Luca.

"Umm... maybe... you can just... hold me?" he said hesitantly.

Luca wasn't sure that he heard him right.

"Hold you?" he echoed. "Why?"

Harper bit his lip. "Umm, just because," he answered.

Luca immediately looked at Enzo for his reaction. While the older brother was scowling, his dark eyes boring intently into Luca's soul, he didn't voice any concerns.

"Umm, ok, sure, buddy," Luca said uneasily. 

Harper perked up and smiled, stretching out across Luca's palm and wrapping his arms around the base of his finger. Luca just watched, wide-eyed, as the little boy settled himself comfortably.

What... does he want me to do? Luca wondered. Just... sit here?

Unsure of what to do next, Luca finally decided to lay his other hand over Harper and began rubbing his tiny back. Harper wiggled a little under his hand to give him better access and let out a little sigh of contentment.

"Enzo does this, too," Harper said. "To help me fall asleep."

"Oh, really?" Luca murmured, surprised by Enzo's reported tenderness. But if there was one thing Luca knew about the borrower, it was that Enzo deeply loved Harper— even more than he cared about his own personal safety or the rules and beliefs he had surrounding humans. So maybe a bit of softness from Enzo regarding his baby brother wasn't that out of character.

"You know, you can just pick me up and hold me whenever you want," Harper invited suddenly. "You don't always have to wait for me to say yes."

Luca froze. "What?"

"I like it when you hold me," Harper continued. "And I know you won't hurt me. Plus, asking for permission takes too long, especially since I'm gonna say yes, anyway."

"Umm," Luca didn't know what to say to that. He looked down at Enzo for help, but the older brother was still silent, his arms crossed over his chest.

Trying not to sigh, Luca continued rubbing Harper's back. He could feel each tiny vertebrae through the child's shirt, and he tried not to shudder at how fragile his two roommates were. If anything, this was a good reminder to be careful.

"Hmm, ok, I'll accept the standing permission to pick you up or touch you," he told Harper. "But I won't touch you if you ever say no or look uncomfortable when I'm reaching for you. Sound good?"

"Sounds good!" Harper chirped back happily.

Luca glanced down at Enzo again and gave him an apologetic smile. Enzo just shrugged and went right back to watching Luca's hands steadily, making sure nothing happened to Harper.

After that, Harper wanted to be held every time he saw Luca, always settling into Luca's hands and holding onto his fingers so that he couldn't be put down.

Luca picked him up reluctantly at first, as Enzo's disapproving eyes gave him the chills. He had never seen eyes as intense as Enzo's, though he figured if their roles were switched, he'd be just as fiercely protective of his own little brother.

But Enzo never protested, leading Luca to wonder how many fights he and Harper had about this very topic for Enzo to have eventually given in like this.

Luca thought things were fine as the days went on like this. He was certainly content with their relationship, but it seemed like Harper thought they were doing too little together, while Enzo definitely felt like they were doing too much.

But then, Harper shook up their routine once again.

"Luca, do you want to play a game with me?" the little boy asked one day, eyes gleaming.

They were at the kitchen table, Luca having printed out a few coloring sheets for Harper. Enzo sat nearby, and though he was quiet, Luca knew he was watching their whole interaction carefully.

"Sure, buddy," Luca said easily. "What type of game?"

Harper bounced up and hopped towards him, gesturing between himself and Luca. "I'm going to run on the table," he explained, stooping down to grab Luca's finger from where his hand rested on the table. "And then you have to chase me, like this, ok?"

Luca watched in bemusement as the boy tried to drag Luca's whole hand after him, panting from the effort. He finally dropped it and braced his tiny hands on his knees. "Got it?" he asked, breathless.

Luca raised his eyebrows. "Umm... ok?"

Harper grinned and raced away from Luca, seemingly recovered. Luca followed, hovering his hand half-heartedly over the boy. It wasn't even hard. He didn't have to reach very far to be able to catch up with him.

Harper squealed at first when the shadow of Luca's hand fell over him, but when Luca didn't do anything else, he frowned and whirled around to chastise him.

"No, no, Luca, you're supposed to catch me," the little boy explained.

Catch him? Luca thought in disbelief. That sounds like a terrifying game. Enzo's going to kill me for sure if I say yes to that.

Luca dropped his hand back to the table and looked at Enzo uneasily. The older brother just crossed his arms and looked put out.

"You want me to... catch you?" Luca echoed, and Harper hopped excitedly.

"Yes!" he exclaimed, throwing his little hands in the air. Luca winced as Enzo's frown deepened. But the borrower still didn't voice his disapproval.

"Are you sure that's such a good idea?" Luca asked, trying to get Harper to change his mind. "Won't it be scary for you?"

"That's the point!" Harper argued. His little duck-fluff of hair bounced with enthusiasm. "It's like a fun-scary. Cmon, it will be fun, I promise! Please?"

He turned his big doe eyes on Luca, who groaned in defeat.

"Damn it, Harper, how am I supposed to say no when you look at me like that?" he complained, and Harper giggled.

"But," Luca continued, "I'm sorry, but I need Enzo's permission for this first. This game is a little intense."

He turned to Enzo and raised his eyebrows. "Well?" he asked. "What do you think about this game? Are you comfortable with it?"

Enzo's scowl said one thing, but his next words said otherwise.

"Don't drop him," Enzo warned, his voice harsh. "Don't grab him tightly. Put him down as soon as he wants you to."

Luca was shocked. "You... you're actually giving us permission to play this game?"

"I already asked Enzo for permission last night!" Harper chimed in. "He said yes!"

"Yeah, only because you've been begging about this all week," Enzo muttered under his breath.

Luca stifled a laugh at the long-suffering expression on Enzo's face. He remembered days like this with David, when the only thing to do was give in to whatever he was demanding. "Alright, I promise I'll be super careful, Enz."

Enzo just kept glaring at him, so Luca repeated himself. "Enzo. He'll be fine. I promise. I'll make sure of it."

Enzo finally took a stiff step back and nodded. Harper let out a little cheer and immediately tugged on Luca's finger, trying to get Luca to chase him.

It became Harper's favorite game after that. He'd beckon to Luca from the table or countertop, racing away amid squeals of laughter and shrieks of terror as Luca's hand followed him.

It was funny and cute, though Luca was worried at first that Harper was actually afraid of him. But the boy was always so happy at being caught that Luca quickly relaxed.

As the weeks went by, Luca really started to feel like the two borrowers were family, though Harper was pretty different from Luca's little brother, David.

David had been an explosion of energy, always asking a million questions, running around like a chicken with its head cut off as he jumped from one activity to the next, leaving a mess behind. He was a mischievous little performer, always trying to get Luca to laugh at him.

But Harper was shy and sweet. He was inquisitive and playful, letting out peals of laughter whenever Luca caught or tickled him. And unlike David, who could never sit still, Harper liked to snuggle, often pressing himself into Luca's hands or against his chest in an effort to get closer.

Luca just about melted every time he was with the small boy. It never made him miss his own brother less, but it was enough. Luca had missed being in the big brother role, and he never took for granted the opportunity he had now.

As for Enzo... well... Luca was fascinated by him, but he couldn't quite figure him out. Harper's older brother was quiet and stern, sometimes even downright surly. His demeanor contrasted so sharply with Harper's inherent sweetness, that Luca often caught himself wondering if the two of them were actually related.

They didn't even look alike, as Harper's soft, cornsilk tuft of hair held no resemblance to the dark waves that Enzo kept swept back in a short ponytail. Their faces were different, too, Harper's features upturned and mischievous, like a little elf's. Enzo's features were similarly sharp, but dramatic and strong, not thin and pointy.

They were both small, obviously, but Enzo was wiry and tough, his muscles hardened from years of climbing. Harper was an excellent climber, but his frame was still thin and peaky.

Despite their differences, they had the same eyes. Dark as night, their eyes were quick, latching onto the smallest hints of movement. Luca often caught both brothers watching him carefully, their black eyes alert and observant as they took everything in.

It was a little unsettling at first, but as Luca got used to it, he started seeing other things in their eyes, like the way Harper's lit up every time Enzo gave him permission to spend time with Luca, or the way Enzo's softened every time he looked at his little brother.

The rare soft glances that Luca caught from Enzo gave him hope that maybe even the cold and wary borrower could warm up to him. And so, Luca made it his secret mission to befriend the stoic older brother.

It was slow going, that was for sure. Enzo wasn't interested in Luca the way that Harper was. He was only interested in keeping Harper safe.

Luca thought that as he held and played with Harper more, Enzo would get used to it, but the older borrower never wavered in his hyper vigilance. Even when Luca tried to include Enzo in their activities, the borrower would only take a step back and shake his head before going back to watching Harper.

So, Luca gave him his space, making sure to greet him cheerfully and to interact with Harper extra carefully.

He'll come around eventually... right? he thought. 

_______________________________________________________

A/N:

Enzo this whole chapter: O_O  and  >:(

Thanks for reading! See you in the next part!