After a week and lots of coaxing, Luca finally convinced Enzo to go outside of the apartment.

They started at the same park that they used to go to. Luca figured it was the best option since Enzo and Harper were already familiar with it, and it was usually empty.

Once they arrived, Harper immediately rolled across the grass, whooping and laughing, while Enzo walked around carefully, glaring at any animals that dared get too close.

Luca tried not to laugh at his paranoia.

"They're just squirrels, Enz," he called to the wary borrower. "They won't hurt you at your size."

Enzo just pursed his lips and turned to keeping a watchful eye on Harper, who was now climbing a tree.

Luca shook his head and smiled ruefully. Poor guy. Luca had no idea how long it would take him to get used to things.

For some reason, Enzo didn't seem bothered by Harper climbing the tree, not saying a single word as Harper climbed higher and higher, way past what Luca would have considered safe for an eight-year-old child.

Luca thought that falling out of a tree was way more likely than being attacked by a squirrel. But then again, Enzo and Harper had been climbing their whole lives. So, Luca didn't say anything, either.

As he watched little Harper climb, he did have a thought, though.

I'm sure they're both so bored at home, Luca mused. They're used to running and climbing, but now they're just cooped up in the apartment all day. I wonder... if I can convince Enzo to let me take them to the climbing gym. Then they could do something they're used to and get the chance to talk to other humans.

***

After they had been to the park several times without anything bad happening, Enzo started to relax a little.

Ok, he thought, watching Harper play a game called tag with Luca a couple weeks later. Maybe... maybe Luca is right. Maybe... things will be fine. We've been human-sized for... about three weeks now? And it seems to be lasting.

He took a deep breath. It was too soon to tell if this change was permanent, but Luca... had been talking about doing... other things as humans. Like going to that store place to pick out more clothes. Or... do that thing called grocery shopping together.

It unnerved Enzo to no end, but he knew Harper was dying to see more than just the little grassy park with its trees and picnic tables. He still wanted to go to a real playground. And a movie theater. And a train station. And who knows where else.

As Enzo watched, Luca finally caught Harper and threw him over his shoulder, Harper shrieking with laughter.

Enzo couldn't help but smile a bit, the scene reminding him of the chase and catch games Harper used to make Luca play back when they were small.

At least they still had Luca. Luca had been... the only thing keeping Enzo sane, probably. He was calm and reassuring, taking everything in stride and making sure that Enzo and Harper had everything they needed.

Enzo had felt bad at first, especially when Luca gave up his own bed for them. But Luca never acted like anything was an inconvenience, insisting that he wanted to help them. So, Enzo just... let him.

Let Luca take care of them, just like the human had been doing even before this whole size-changing mess. And... he was just as good at taking care of them now as he had been back then.

In addition to everything else he was doing for them, Luca had been working from home every day, helping Enzo come up with activities for Harper so that the little boy wasn't climbing the walls with boredom. Now that they were human-sized, everyone very quickly realized that the apartment wasn't big enough for the three of them. 

Luca suggested that going outside more and letting Harper try new things would help, but he backed off whenever Enzo glared at him. At least he never suggested going outside whenever Harper was in earshot, which Enzo appreciated. The last thing he wanted was to get Harper's hopes up, just to dash them to pieces.

But... things were getting to the point where Enzo was starting to think that Luca was right about getting out of the apartment. Because... despite all his fears and worries, being human-sized wasn't... bad at all. In fact, Enzo was surprised by how quickly he got used to the convenience and ease of being bigger and being able to use items meant for people his size.

He no longer had to worry about falling to his death or getting eaten by a mouse. Spiders were just pests now instead of life-threatening monsters. Cups and plates and bowls were the right size, and indoor plumbing? An absolute game changer.

The only thing Enzo didn't like about being human-sized was the fact that he couldn't be held by Luca anymore. Though they still had their nightly meetings in the living room, it just... wasn't the same.

Enzo desperately wished Luca could still hold all of him, could still wrap him up in his warmth and make him feel like nothing in the world could touch him. Heaven knows he needed that kind of comfort now more than ever.

But that need, that hungry ache could never be satisfied like this. Now that he was human-sized, Luca just sat beside him on the couch, listening to his worries patiently and offering him a hand on the back every now and then.

It wasn't the same. And Enzo found himself fantasizing about just giving in and climbing into Luca's lap himself, feeling Luca's arms wrap around him. Maybe that would feel the same?

But there was some distance now that he was human-sized. Enzo felt that doing such a thing was a line he shouldn't cross, and Luca certainly never suggested it. But Enzo still wanted to.

Enzo fidgeted on the bench he was sitting on, watching Luca and Harper take a breather from their intense game of tag to look for something that Luca called a four-leaf clover in the grass.

Enzo's heart softened at the sight.

He loves Harper as much as I do, Enzo realized. He'd never suggest we do something that would pose a risk to him. And nothing that he's suggested so far has gotten us hurt. I think... Maybe... it's time to act on his suggestions... and try a little bit more.

***

Luca was beyond surprised when Enzo agreed to go clothes and grocery shopping, but he jumped on the chance immediately, ushering the two borrowers out to the car and showing them where to sit.

He got Harper buckled in the backseat, the little boy bouncing with excitement about going somewhere new, before heading around to the driver's side

He got in the car and turned to look at Enzo in the passenger seat. The older borrower just sat there, staring out the window blankly. When he didn't move, Luca reached over him to tug his seatbelt on.

Enzo looked at him in surprise, and Luca clicked the seatbelt in.

"You need to wear this," Luca explained, and Enzo grimaced, tugging at the tight strap uncomfortably. 

"It just keeps you safe," Luca added. "In case the car crashes."

Enzo startled a bit. "Is that going to happen?" he whispered, shooting a quick glance at Harper in the backseat.

"No," Luca assured him, placing a hand on Enzo's knee. "We'll all be safe. The store isn't far. There's not a lot of traffic, either."

Enzo just nodded, his face pale. Though he had been gaining some color these last few weeks after spending some much needed time outdoors, his nervousness leeched it all away.

Luca started the car and glanced at Harper in the rearview mirror. The little boy beamed back at him, still bouncing in his seat. 

Once at the store, Luca showed Enzo and Harper how to unbuckle their seatbelts and get out of the car. Harper fidgeted in the parking lot, his eyes wide as he tried take everything in.

"Alright, Harps, what are the five rules for clothes shopping?" Luca asked as he locked the car and turned towards the store.

"Does it fit? Is it comfy? Do I feel cool? Will I wear it? Can I afford it?" Harper rattled off quickly, voice excited.

"Bingo," Luca smiled at him and took his hand, grabbing Enzo's hand with the other.

The older borrower let him without a fuss, as Luca figured he would. Enzo wasn't keen on going to new places, and he'd been especially clingy the last few weeks. Luca was sure he'd want to avoid being separated from him.

Maybe clothes shopping isn't the best way to get these guys out and about, Luca thought, looking at all the other shoppers milling about. He didn't miss the way Enzo eyed them all suspiciously. 

But the borrowers did need more things, and Luca wanted them to be able to pick stuff out themselves. Especially if they were going to be wearing them for a while.

They shopped for Harper first, who enthusiastically grabbed stuff off the racks and showed them to Enzo and Luca. The first thing Harper held up was a little T-shirt with a spaceship on it.

"Luca, Luca!" he exclaimed. "What about this one? Is this one cool?"

"So cool," Luca affirmed. "Do you think it's cool?"

Harper studied the print before he nodded. "I think it's cool, too."

"Great!" Luca said. He looked at the price tag and added it to the cart. "Then let's try it on to see if it fits and is comfy."

After grabbing several more items, they all headed to the dressing rooms. Luca taught Harper how to model his clothes, and he couldn't stop laughing at the way Harper strutted down the dressing room aisle and struck a pose at the end, his tiny face serious and his hand in the air.

Even Enzo smiled a bit, though he busied himself with fussing over Harper's clothes and making sure they fit correctly.

After Harper was done, they looked for clothes for Enzo. He certainly didn't want to do any modeling in the dressing room. He didn't even want to try stuff on, grabbing four of the same basic T-shirt and throwing them into the cart before saying he found everything he needed.

Luca and Harper just looked at each other and shook their heads.

"Nope, we're vetoing the way you shop," Luca said firmly, taking all but one of the gray shirts out of the cart.

"Hey!" Enzo protested, but Luca wasn't done. He squinted at the tag on one of the shirts. "Enz, these aren't even your size!" he said. "They're too big!"

"So what?" Enzo insisted. "Put them back!" But Harper was already handing him a different shirt.

"Try this one, Enz," the little boy suggested. "I think the color's nice."

In the end, Enzo's clothes were a lot less expressive than Harper's fun little graphic tees, as he chose neutral clothing that was just different shades of blacks, whites, and grays.

Luca did convince him to get something that was light blue, remembering it was Enzo's favorite color, and the borrower had accepted it, his face slightly flushed.

***

Enzo didn't know what to make of being out among actual humans. He felt like an imposter, for starters. All of a sudden, he didn't know how to walk or how to act. He was certain someone would notice that there was something off about him and Harper and snatch them away from Luca.

But... nothing happened. They got the clothes that they wanted, and Harper had a blast. It helped that Luca held his hand most of the time and made sure to keep Harper in sight.

His relief was short lived, however, as once outside of the apartment, Enzo got to see Luca interacting with other humans. And he very quickly decided that he didn't like it.

Luca had an easy-going and friendly personality. He was quick to smile, quick to put someone else at ease. He made faces at a baby in the dressing room and chatted amicably with the child's mother. He helped an employee fold clothes that had gotten knocked off a display case. And when they went to the grocery store later, he even helped a little old lady put her groceries in her car.

He's too charming, Enzo thought with distaste as he watched the cashier at the grocery store smile shyly at Luca as he paid. He needs to be more standoffish. So that people don't get the wrong idea.

He glared at the cashier on their way out, tightening his grip on the back of Luca's shirt. Luca looked down at him in surprise, but he didn't say anything as he led them back to the car.

_________________________________________________________

A/N:

Enzo: You're only allowed to be nice to me and Harper.

Luca: I will literally do whatever you want, so sure, sounds good.

Aaaaaaannnnnd we're back! Thanks for everyone's patience. I won't be uploading at the same speed/number of chapters as before but expect updates every other day. Happy reading! Don't forget to vote. What do you think Luca will convince Enzo and Harper to try next? And do you think Enzo will leave the apartment again? Because I sure don't.