"Well?" Luca began, once they were home and alone. Harper had been on cloud nine all day, and he wouldn't stop talking about all the plants and clouds and dirt he had seen outside. He couldn't wait to see more next time, and he wasn't shy about saying so.

Enzo had wanted to retort that there wouldn't be a next time, but Luca just shook his head slightly, warning him not to dampen Harper's mood.

So, Enzo had kept quiet, grumpy all by himself for no other reason than... the fact that Luca had been right. The outside was nice, and he and Harper had been perfectly safe.

Now alone on the couch, Harper fast asleep in the bedroom, Luca had a smug little grin on his face that Enzo didn't like. "How was being outside?" Luca continued. "It was nice, wasn't it? Spring weather is always the best."

Enzo tried his best not to scowl, he really did, but he didn't like the idea of someone else being right. He had spent so long being the only one he had to listen to, after all. How could someone else's opinion and perspective make more sense than his own?

"It was ok," he said harshly, not wanting to give in. "But there were too many bugs."

He was, of course, referring to the one ladybug and two ants that he saw.

"Not ones big enough to eat you," Luca reminded him, and Enzo scowled harder, not giving Luca the satisfaction of a reply.

Luca studied him for a moment, the teasing look in his eyes slowly replaced by thoughtfulness.

"Come here, Enz," Luca finally said, holding out his hands and beckoning to him. "Let me hold you."

Grumbling to himself about how much he did not want to be held, Enzo still found himself heading towards Luca, closing the gap between them until Luca scooped him up.

Surrounded on all sides by the human's hands like this, Enzo knew that he should feel scared, but all he felt was a comfortable, lazy warmth, his earlier irritation slowly slipping away.

When I'm here like this, I don't have to worry about anything, Enzo realized, sinking deeper into the palms of Luca's hands. Not about food, not about safety, not about Harper. I can just... breathe. Because Luca can take care of it. He can take care of me.

Luca's free hand hovered over him for a moment, and Enzo closed his eyes as it finally came down to softly touch his face.

"Thank you for letting me take you guys outside," Luca murmured. He traced along Enzo's brow and temple with a single fingertip, making Enzo shiver. "I'm really glad you got to do something new for a change. I loved going to the park with you."

His fingers trailed down Enzo's chest, caught his arm between their gentle grasp, and ran back up to stroke his cheek and play with his hair.

It felt incredible, and Enzo struggled to remember what they had just been talking about.

Wasn't I... annoyed with him just a second ago? Enzo thought in bewilderment. Luca gently pinched his body between his fingers to turn him over, and all Enzo could do was let him. How does he get away with this every damn time?

He didn't even mind Luca's method of cheering him up as the human's careful fingers softly kneaded the tense muscles in his back and neck.

Despite the way the evening had started, Enzo was like putty in Luca's hands, absolutely melted and at ease. Surrendering control and being at someone's mercy like this was... surprisingly easy when it was with Luca.

***

Luca glanced down to check on Enzo, and he saw that the borrower was drowsy but still awake. He was fighting it, though, as every time he would nod off, he would jerk awake and look around in confusion.

Luca chuckled softly just watching this go on, and Enzo barely looked up at him.

"Hmm?" Enzo murmured. "What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing," Luca answered. He took his time stroking Enzo's hair and then running his finger down his back. Enzo shivered and slid closer. Luca honestly couldn't believe how relaxed Enzo had gotten in such a short time.

Did he... just need someone to hold him this whole time? Luca wondered, thinking about how tired and lonely Enzo always used to look. Someone who would just sit with him and make sure nothing bad happened?

He felt incredibly lucky that such a skittish person had decided to trust him so wholeheartedly. Just looking at Enzo, drowsy and helpless as a kitten in his hands, solidified Luca's resolve to ensure that he never betrayed that trust.

"You can sleep if you want," Luca suggested, and he was surprised when Enzo shook his head, dark hair brushing his face.

"I have to get back to Harper," was all he said.

"I'll get you back," Luca assured him. He stroked Enzo's cheek, and the borrower leaned into his touch. "You just relax."

Enzo finally nodded and closed his eyes. He curled up on his side and let Luca's fingers stretch him out to trail over him easier.

He's like a feral little cat, Luca thought, recalling how prickly and defensive Enzo was in the beginning. He'll hiss and swat at you until you get him in your lap. Then he's all yours.

He gently took Enzo's fist in his fingers, straightening out his hand as he ran his thumb along the back of his tiny knuckles thoughtfully.

Luca hadn't meant to be so pushy with getting Enzo to agree to going outside, but the results he was hoping for were obvious, as both brothers looked much more refreshed after a single trip outdoors.

Enzo and Harper had already started looking much, much better after leaving the walls and getting consistent fresh food over the last few months. But they were still so pale, almost sickly looking.

They looked like they were in insanely good shape from all the climbing and running they did. They were both clearly strong with no fat on them. But people needed fat to truly live healthily, and since Harper and Enzo didn't have proper nutrition or time outdoors, they had looked like tired ghosts when Luca first saw them.

Luca felt horrible. Given their condition, he worried that he hadn't been leaving enough food out for them over the years, but Enzo had dismissed his concerns months ago, saying that there had been more than enough food. They just never took that much at any one time, in order to avoid being noticed.

Well, that had just made Luca feel worse, as he figured that if he had just talked to Enzo that first day, maybe everything could have been avoided.

But Enzo had waved him off again when Luca brought it up. He told him that if Luca had tried to talk to him back then, he never would have been able to convince Enzo to stay.

And who knows where Enzo and Harper would have ended up if they had left Luca's apartment. Probably dead, Enzo had said dismissively.

Luca appreciated Enzo's graciousness, but he still felt bad. And that was why he was a little insistent on doing things to remedy their situation now.

"I wish I could have done more to take care of you all those years ago," he murmured, softly stroking Enzo's dark hair.

Enzo was fully asleep at this point, and Luca was struck again by how different the borrower looked when he was relaxed like this, his stern brows no longer creased in concentration or worry, his shoulders drooped in sleep.

Luca didn't see it often, so he stared at the peaceful expression on Enzo's classic features now, softly running his fingertip along the bridge of Enzo's nose before moving along his brow and tracing the tiny contours of his ear.

Enzo just sighed in his sleep as Luca resumed playing with his hair.

What a little angel, Luca thought, eyes soft with affection. I would do anything to make sure he always felt this safe.

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A/N: Ok yeah, so things are really going to pick up in the next chapter. Just a friendly lil' heads up.

Don't forget to vote and comment! See you in the next part and thanks for reading!