The kids were on spring break, and though Luca wanted to spend more time with Harper, work suddenly picked up, leaving him with only the weekends free. It was exhausting, and Luca found himself dragging himself into the office or his home office every day, dreading another day of work.

It hadn't always been like that. Luca had never been the biggest fan of software engineering, but he didn't hate it. He liked that it paid the bills and that he could work from home. But the increase in hours made him realize how much he disliked being stuck behind a screen every day, and after five years of this, it was becoming a drain.

Luca didn't say anything about his struggles, figuring he could just power through until his project load lightened up. Enzo, however, picked up on his quieter mood and started calling him out on it.

Luca brushed his concerns off each time, until finally, a few weeks later, Enzo cornered him and pressed him for an answer.

"What is going on with you?" the borrower insisted, hands on his hips. "You're usually much more involved when the twins are over. I thought for sure you'd want to go to the park or something, not have them just play at home."

Charlene was out running some weekend errands, so Luca and Enzo were watching Sam and Collin for the afternoon. They were busy coloring with Harper in the living room, and Luca had gone into his bedroom to grab some more paper for them. He wasn't expecting Enzo to follow him, but there the borrower was, staring at him with a mixture of frustration and concern. 

"I... it's nothing," Luca dismissed, trying to scoot around him. Enzo, however, had other plans, as he blocked the doorway and glared at him. Luca smiled nervously, not sure why he was suddenly in trouble. 

"Umm... is something wrong?" Luca asked.

"Of course something is wrong!" Enzo burst out. "You're upset, and you're not telling me why."

Luca froze and stared at him. Enzo's eyebrows were lowered, his dark eyes stern. He was wearing one of Luca's T-shirts, too, a habit he'd gotten into ever since becoming human sized. Despite his boyfriend's fierce glare, Luca couldn't help but smile at the energetic outburst on his behalf. 

It's sweet that he cares, he thought fondly. But... this isn't something I really want to get into right now. Besides... it's not like he can do anything about the situation.

"I really am ok, Enz," he assured the borrower, reaching out to stroke his dark hair to placate him. "Please don't worry about me."

Enzo just crossed his arms over his chest and scowled harder. "Oh, so you're allowed to push and badger me into talking to you about things, but I'm not allowed to do it to you?"

Luca couldn't help but laugh. Enzo was right, though. Luca liked to poke and prod and coax Enzo into talking to him or trying new things. It was funny to see Enzo doing the same thing to him. 

He's got a point, Luca thought ruefully. After all the bullying I've put him through, I at least owe it to him to open up in return. 

"I'm... just tired from work," he began, feeling strange to actually tell someone what was going on. "And, well... some days, I don't really want to get up in the morning and go into the office. That's all. I guess I'm just dreading going back to work on Monday."

At Enzo's look of concern, Luca was quick to reassure him. "But that's normal!" he insisted. "Everyone has those days." He plastered a smile to his face. "I'll be fine."

Enzo did not look convinced. "They have those days for three weeks in a row?" he questioned.

Luca's smile faltered. "Umm..."

Enzo interrupted before he could even formulate an answer. "Do you even like whatever it is that you do on the computer every day?"

Luca blinked at the unexpected question. This was not the direction he expected Enzo to go in. His mouth tried to form an answer, but honestly? He didn't think he could say yes.

Enzo watched him struggle for a minute before speaking again. "You know, I always wondered why someone who likes to be around people and hike and go outside would want to be inside and staring at his computer all day," he mentioned. "You never even look at a screen once you're off work. You're always out doing something or spending time with me and Harper."

Luca's shoulders slumped. Enzo had hit the nail on the head. "That's... actually what I've been thinking about the last few weeks," he admitted. "Wondering if this is what I want to be doing for the rest of my life."

He gave in and sat on the edge of his bed, shrugging helplessly. "It's just... I chose my job because it seemed like a smart decision at the time. And... I still feel like it was. But now... the thought of doing it every day for the next five years... even the next two years..." He shuddered. "It's just... ugh. Not appealing."

Enzo sat beside him and placed his hand over Luca's. "Then, what would you like to do instead?" he asked.

Luca was touched by Enzo's interest, staring down at their clasped hands. He thought for a minute, trying to find the words. He wasn't used to someone asking him these types of questions or walking him through stuff. After all, he had spent the last ten years making all the decisions on his own. But consulting with someone like this? It was... nice. 

"I don't know... I kind of wanted to be a physical therapist when I first started college," Luca answered slowly, rubbing his thumb along the back of Enzo's knuckles. "But it was just too much school and too much money. I... it didn't seem realistic back then."

"Well, why don't you go back to that school thing now?" Enzo suggested. "Study something that will actually let you be what you want."

Luca knew that Enzo was trying to help, but he couldn't stop himself from sighing. How do I explain this to someone who's never been to school or even really interacted with more than 20 people? he wondered. People don't just... completely change career paths like he's suggesting.

"It... it's not that simple, Enz," Luca explained. "We just bought a house, so I need to keep working to pay off the mortgage as well as take care of regular bills. And then there's school. I'd need to take intro courses before I could even apply to a PT school, and even then, they might not accept me. It's not easy to become a doctor."

He rubbed his hands down his face, tired just thinking about it. "And even if I did get in, what then?" he wondered aloud. "School is expensive, and it will be exhausting to work and take a full course load. I could try for a loan or scholarship, but honestly, it just sounds like too much of a hassle."

Enzo did not look impressed by Luca's explanation about why he couldn't suddenly become a physical therapist. But of course he didn't. There was no way Enzo could understand the words he was saying. They were human concerns, human struggles. A borrower who had lived in the walls his whole life didn't know the ins and outs of navigating human society and educational systems.

But what Luca didn't account for was that while Enzo didn't understand the specifics of the problem, he did understand what it was like to have a problem. And he also understood that Luca's attitude wasn't going to make anything better.

***

Enzo knew that something was wrong. Luca always looked a bit tired at the end of a workday, but nowadays, he seemed to be dreading work before he even started.

Harper had wanted to try out having his own room, so Enzo started alternating nights, sleeping in Harper's room some nights and in Luca's on the others. The human would be extra clingy the mornings after Enzo slept in his room, wanting to stay under the covers with Enzo for longer.

Enzo had liked the extra affection, but when Luca stopped wanting to get out of bed altogether, he started to get concerned. His concerns only grew the more Luca avoided talking about it. "I'm fine, doll," he'd always say, giving Enzo a quick kiss. "Don't worry about it."

But Enzo had worried about it, and now, talking to Luca like this and hearing him talk about his job like he was stuck, like he couldn't do anything about it... Enzo tried not to get mad, but he couldn't help the annoyed feeling that rose up in his chest.

How many times have I told Luca that I couldn't do something, only for him to find a way for me to do it? he wondered. It's so weird that he won't do the same for himself.

Enzo studied the way his human stared down at the ground, looking lost. This isn't like Luca at all, he thought. Luca makes decisions, and then he makes them happen. He's always done that. Wanting to befriend me and Harper? Wanting to take us outside? Wanting to go to the beach? 

As soon as Luca knew those things were a possibility, he had jumped on each chance, making plans with Enzo to make those things a safe reality. Enzo was positive that if Luca really wanted to do something, he could, even with the obstacles he just listed. So, why was he being so wishy-washy over this?

The double standard irked him, and Enzo voiced his grievances. "Oh, so it's ok if I try all these new things and make all these changes in my life, but you can't?" he demanded. "How is your situation any different from me coming out of the walls? Or sitting in your hands? Or even just... trusting you? Loving you?"

Luca didn't look at him. "It... it just is, Enz," he said hopelessly. "It's just... too hard to explain right now."

"How?" Enzo repeated. "How is making me go out of my comfort zone different from making you go out of your comfort zone?"

When Luca didn't answer, Enzo tried a different question. "Would you say that trying those things was easy for me? Going outside? Going to the store? Meeting other humans?"

Luca smiled and shook his head. "Definitely not," he said.

Enzo nodded. "But would you say those things were worth it once I tried them?"

Luca looked at their clasped hands again and laughed softly. "I sure hope so," he answered. "Considering where they led us."

"Then... changing your job, even though it will be hard... do you think that could be worth it, too?" Enzo asked.

Luca sighed and shrugged. "I get what you're trying to say, Enz," he said softly. "And I... guess... the fear you felt facing those things isn't so different from what I'm feeling now, but... but I'm just not like you, Enz. I don't know how to do this. I don't even know if I can do this." 

Enzo scoffed. Luca was so close. "Of course you're not like me," he confirmed. "But you don't need to be like me to be brave and do what you want. You don't need to be like me because you're... you're..."

He struggled to find the right word to describe his human, but he found he just couldn't. So, he settled for the word he liked best. "You're Luca."

He cupped Luca's face in his hands, staring at him firmly.

"You said you'd help Harper when he was sick, and you did. You said you'd keep me and Harper safe, and you did. You said you'd get a better house for us all, and you did. Honestly, Luca, if you say you'll do something, I know that you will. It's the same with this. If you say you're going to change careers, you'll find a way to do that, too."

He smoothed Luca's dark blue hair back as he talked. "You can do that stupid school thing and work, and you'll eventually get the job that you want. It will be hard, yes, but won't staying in a job you hate be hard, too?"

Luca opened his mouth to protest, and Enzo hurried to continue.

"And in the meantime, I'll figure out how to do everything else. School for Harper. Stuff around the house. My shifts at the gym. It will be fine. As long as you're involved, everything will always be fine."

Luca stared at him in stunned astonishment. Enzo tried not to flush in embarrassment. He usually didn't share his feelings like this.

"Look," he said plainly, letting go of Luca's face and taking the human's hand in both of his. "I want you to be happy, and you're not happy right now. So, something has to change. If it's your job, then that has to change. Even if you have to work extra hard for a little while, I'm sure it will pay off in the long run." He squeezed Luca's hand, staring at him intently. "Like trusting you did for me."

Luca was quiet for a long moment, looking thoughtful. Enzo just waited quietly, giving him the chance to think things through. Finally, Luca spoke.

"Well... I do still have most of the money from my mom's life insurance policy," Luca mused. "I didn't need it for school since I was on a sports scholarship. And my salary was enough for the mortgage, so I didn't touch it for the house."

He looked at Enzo, this time a new light in his eyes. "You know what," he said slowly. "I need to think about this some more, but I think... I think this may actually work."

He leaned forward and planted a kiss on Enzo's lips. "Thanks, doll," he said when he finally pulled away. "I needed that."

Enzo made a face at the nickname, but he still pulled Luca back towards him for another kiss.

***

Luca started taking summer classes at the community college not long afterwards, trying to get credits that would help him pass the test to get into physical therapy school.

Like he told Enzo, physical therapy had been something he was interested in ever since high school. After his car accident, he had spent months trying to recover from it in physical therapy. It was hardest, rawest time in his life, but the therapist who walked him through everything had been a miracle worker.

She not only helped his broken body, but she was so endlessly patient and compassionate that Luca felt his heart heal a little bit, too. Because of her influence, Luca had toyed with the idea of going to PT school back when he was in college. He almost majored in something that would set him on that track, too.

But he needed something that would get him a high paying and flexible job quickly, not more school. So, he had brushed that idea aside for something that he thought was more practical.

Practical, huh? Luca thought sardonically as he worked on a project. So practical that now I have to work full time on the job I don't like while also taking classes to prepare for more school in the field I actually want to pursue.

But though Luca felt a little behind, at least he had gotten to this point at all. If Enzo hadn't pushed him to consider it, he probably wouldn't have even tried to take classes. Speaking of Enzo... seeing Enzo and Harper was... the only thing Luca looked forward to at the end of each long day.

His little borrowers did everything they could to make his life easier. Harper always tried to cheer him up by drawing pictures for him or giving him an extra snack he had saved from Charlene. It was sweet and cute, and Luca always hugged the little boy a little longer than he used to before sending him off to bed each night.

As for Enzo, well, he was supportive in his own ways, too. With Luca's new busy schedule, Enzo took up most of the household chores, including, unfortunately, cooking. 

It's not that Enzo was necessarily a bad cook. He was just... creative. After having lived on kitchen scraps his whole life, it seemed like Enzo had no idea what food was supposed to taste like, or even what flavors went well together. 

Luckily, Luca had Harper to supervise his older brother in the kitchen. After all the time Luca spent teaching Harper how to cook, he trusted that the little guy knew how to replicate a few recipes.  

Enzo also worked to stop being so dependent on Luca by broadening the circle of humans he trusted. Enzo trusted Charlene, of course, but he started going to the climbing gym without Luca. This was the biggest surprise of all, but Luca couldn't deny that it was helpful.

Enzo still couldn't drive, so Katie and Jake would pick up Enzo and Harper for Enzo's shifts at the gym. This freed up Luca's evenings to focus on class instead of watching the borrowers during their time out in public. 

Though it was helpful, Luca couldn't help but feel worried as he watched Enzo and Harper walk out the door without him for the first time. They've never tried to face the human world without me, he thought nervously. Are they really going to be okay? 

But Enzo was clearly trying to be brave for him, so Luca kept his thoughts to himself. And Luca trusted Katie and Jake, though he always reminded them to keep an eye on his borrowers, using the same "medical condition" excuse he had given Charlene. 

Luckily, the brothers always returned home to him, safe and sound, and Luca eventually relaxed. Learning to let go and lean on Enzo and his support network was new, but it was worth it. Just like Enzo said it would be. 

___________________________________________________________

A/N: Nothing against software engineering, but Luca's just not the type to excel in that field.

In other news, Luca finally gets a taste of his own medicine as Enzo bullies him into doing something that he knows will be good for him. Get you someone like Enzo, who will let you snuggle them for as long as you need before yelling at you to chase your dreams.

Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for the last chapter and don't forget to vote and comment if you want!