Luca was very curious about his tiny roommates. The morning after he found them in the kitchen was quiet and uneventful. Luca decided to work from home again in case Enzo took a turn for the worse or Harper didn't know what to do.

Harper had stayed put with Enzo all day, though he didn't seem nearly as scared as he had the night before. He readily accepted the food and water that Luca offered him, even being brave enough to ask Luca for some string.

"I want to replace Enzo's cord," he explained when Luca asked why. "I'm going to make it really, really strong. So it won't break again."

Now it was the second day, and Luca had yet to hear from either brother. He dropped off some food and water earlier in the morning, and it had disappeared behind the curtain when he went to check on them.

So, Luca just retreated to the living room, figuring that they would either need something when he went to check on them again, or Harper would come out to get him. It was the weekend, so he could be available to them all day without any distractions.

A slight sound caught his attention, and Luca looked down to see Harper standing all alone on the floor, wringing his hands and looking nervous.

Luca sat up straight on the couch. "Harper?" he called softly. "Are you alright? Do you need something?" A thought struck him. "Does Enzo need something?"

Harper shook his little head, still silent.

"Well, what is it?" Luca pressed.

"Umm... umm... Enzo's asleep," Harper said softly, tugging on the hem of his shirt. "Can I... come be out here with you?"

Luca was surprised by the request, but he did his best to hide it. "Of course, bud," he said. "You wanna come up on the couch?"

Harper's tiny face lit up, and he marched towards the couch determinedly. It was then that Luca saw the little hook and string that he had roped over his shoulder.

Curious about what he would do, he watched as the boy tried, and failed, to throw his hook all the way up to the cushion beside Luca.

After watching this for a few minutes, Luca spoke up.

"Do you want me to plant your hook in the couch so you can climb up?" he offered.

Out of breath, Harper pushed his light hair out of his eyes and nodded. "Yes, please," he panted.

Luca reached down slowly, not wanting to scare the boy. Harper backed up a little bit, but he was still brave enough to place his hook in Luca's outstretched palm.

Moving his hand back up, Luca notched the hook into the cloth cushion and tossed the string down to Harper, tugging on it a few times to make sure it was secure.

"You're good," he called down to the little boy, and within a minute, Harper was up the rope and seated on the couch.

Luca blinked. "Wow, you're fast," was all he said, and Harper beamed.

"You should see Enzo," he said proudly. "He's even faster. He lets me race him sometimes, but I can never beat him. Not even with a head start!"

"Wow," Luca repeated, marveling at the little people in his walls. "You guys are incredible."

Harper smiled again, and Luca changed the subject. "So, how is Enzo feeling?" he asked. "It's been about a day and a half since he fell, right?"

Harper nodded. "He says he's fine, but he doesn't like to move, so I know he's lying. But he'll be alright in about a week, I think."

"Has he gotten up at all?" Luca asked next. "I haven't seen or heard from him."

"Oh, yeah, he gets up to eat and use the bathroom. But he mostly just sleeps." Harper patted the couch cushion and looked around at the living room from his vantage point. "That's why I'm out here. It's a little boring to watch Enzo sleep."

It's been... 36 hours, Luca thought worriedly. Is it normal for him to sleep this much? If he has a concussion, isn't that... dangerous?

Out loud, he said, "Is Enzo... okay? He sure is sleeping a lot. Is that... normal?"

"Yeah, he's okay, we just sleep a lot when we get hurt or sick," Harper explained.

"We? You and Enzo?"

"People like us," Harper clarified.

Luca was interested at the thought of other little people running around. "People like you?" he repeated. "And what exactly... are you?"

"Enzo says we're borrowers, since we borrow stuff from humans." Harper scratched his little head. "But I never thought that made much sense since we don't return any of the stuff we take."

He shrugged

"Enzo said that our mom told him we were descended from faeries or elves or something, but Enzo says that's stupid. It's just an old story."

"Are there other people like you?" Luca wondered, and Harper shrugged again.

"I don't know. Enzo says yes. He said he met a few from the other places he used to live growing up. And that there used to be some borrowers in one of the other apartments before they moved."

He sure talks about Enzo a lot, Luca thought, staring at the small boy. But of course he does. Enzo's his whole world. I don't think he's talked to another living soul besides his brother.

"And... what about your parents?" Luca asked carefully.

"They're dead," Harper said. The little boy's tone was matter of fact. "They died when I was a baby, so I don't remember them. Enzo still misses them, though. But he doesn't like to say so."

Oh, Enzo, Luca thought, recalling the thin teenager he had found years ago. Was that before or after I moved here?

"How... did they die?" Luca asked. "If you don't mind me asking."

I hope it wasn't an accident, he thought. Or one of the humans.

"The humans we lived with got really, really sick, and so did our mom and dad," Harper answered. "And then they died. Enzo said that even one of the humans died, too."

"Oh, no," Luca said softly. "I'm so sorry, Harper."

"Yeah." The little boy looked down. "Enzo said he buried our parents in the garden at the house we used to live in. He said our mom loved the garden, so that's why he buried them there."

"The house you used to live in?" Luca repeated, surprised. He thought they had always lived in this apartment. "Why did you leave? How did you end up here?"

Harper played with a loose thread on the couch. "Enzo said that the human who survived was selling the house. And that the new humans had two cats and little kids. So, he moved us out. Pets and kids are the worst for borrowers to live with."

"I see." Luca was very impressed, remembering the young Enzo he had seen when he first moved in.

So, Enzo and Harper probably moved in around the same time I did, Luca mused. Damn. Poor kid. He had just lost his parents, survived what was probably a terrifying and very dangerous move, and raised Harper on his own? Who the hell even is this guy?

Harper seemed much more comfortable now, and he pointed at the TV. "How does that work?" He asked, and Luca turned it on.

The light from the screen reflected in Harper's dark eyes as he stared, mesmerized.

"I can put on a movie for you," Luca offered. "If you're bored?"

"Movie?" Harper looked confused.

"Umm, yeah," Luca answered. "It's just a fun story that you watch on the TV. They last about two hours. Want to try one?"

Harper nodded enthusiastically, so Luca set him up with what he thought would be an age-appropriate movie, watching as Harper settled comfortably into the couch.

"Oh, I know what this is," Harper suddenly piped up as the movie started. "But I forgot what it was called. Sometimes, Enzo lets us sneak up to that vent to watch with you."

Harper pointed up at the vent that sat just below the ceiling, and Luca smiled a bit.

"Well, I hope you like it," Luca said. "We should check on Enzo when it's over, but you're welcome to spend more time with me after that."

Harper nodded absentmindedly, his huge eyes already glued to the screen.

***

Harper came out to see Luca the next day and the day after that, venturing a little bit closer each time.

Luca always acted like this was a normal occurrence, but inside, he was absolutely delighted. Every time Harper came out into the open, he couldn't stop himself from staring at this tiny boy who had been growing up inside the walls of his home.

His little fluff of bleach blonde hair. His miniscule little fingers. The inquisitive look in his pitch-black eyes whenever he turned to Luca to ask him a question about something.

Luca quickly discovered that Harper was curious and very sharp. Despite having lived in the walls with only Enzo to speak to, it seemed like the boy's big brother had poured in a lot of effort into raising, teaching, and taking care of him.

He was smart and sweet, asking Luca endless questions about what he was doing on his computer or about the movie on the TV or about humans in general. It seemed like Harper didn't know anything about humans, aside from what he had observed from living with Luca.

Luca often had to hold back his laughter at some of Harper's confused questions, like if all humans' hair changed colors frequently like Luca's did or if the people in the TV went to sleep when you turned the movie off.

Harper was especially curious about "The Outside" as he called it. His eyes widened every time Luca showed him pictures on his phone of the trails he liked to hike.

Luca couldn't believe that Harper had never been outside before. He considered taking him out himself but decided against it. Everything was still too new, Enzo probably wouldn't like it, and Luca didn't want to separate the brothers, even for a moment.

So, he came up with other activities for Harper to keep the boy entertained. They colored, read books, and played games. Harper had never done any of the things that Luca introduced to him, and he loved each one, tiny face aglow with happiness.

While Harper wasn't that skilled in most things that kids his age could do, like read or color in the lines, he was shockingly good at other things.

He was very talented at making practical objects, so Luca went all out in collecting the materials that Harper asked for, watching with wide eyes as Harper showed him how to make a chair or a rope or collecting bag.

He was also much, much faster and quieter than a seven-year-old human. And the way he pulled himself up while climbing made Luca think that he was probably stronger, too.

Though Harper never came close enough to let Luca touch him, he did gradually start drifting closer. He even accepted a sandwich directly from Luca's hand by their third day together, and Luca was thrilled with their progress.

During all their activities, they also talked a lot. Harper was shy at first, but soon enough, he proved to be a little chatterbox, asking Luca questions and telling Luca all about himself.

He especially seemed to like talking about Enzo, and he wasted no time in sharing everything that Enzo taught him about borrowing. It was clear that the little boy adored his big brother.

Talking to Harper made Luca wildly curious about the enigmatic older brother. From Harper's description, Enzo seemed like a type of god— smart, fast, indestructible. But with Enzo passed out nearly every minute of every day, Luca didn't get an opportunity to interact with him.

"What's Enzo like?" he asked on their second day together.

"He's the best," Harper said fervently, giving a firm little nod. His downy head of hair fluffed up at the movement, like a baby duck's. "He's so cool. One time, a mouse snuck into our nest, and he killed it like bam! One strike right to the heart."

Harper demonstrated the movement, holding what looked like an imaginary sword.

I have a tiny... pirate...? Living in my walls? Luca wondered at the swashbuckling image that Harper was painting. Huh.

Out loud, he said, "yeah he sounds really cool."

"Yeah," Harper agreed happily, but then his face fell.

"We might have to move," Harper said suddenly. "Enzo said so."

Luca's heart froze, and he fought to keep a neutral expression on his face. "Oh?" he said lightly. "How come?"

"We're not supposed to be seen by humans." Harper twisted the hem of his shirt, something Luca was starting to realize was a nervous habit of his. "Enzo says if we're ever seen, we have to move immediately before the human starts getting more curious."

"I see," Luca said. Still trying to keep his tone conversational, he said, "do you think you'll have to move?"

Harper's little face crinkled in uncertainty. "I don't know," he admitted. "Enzo's always been really sure we would have to so that we can be safe. But... maybe you're different? Since you already knew about us and didn't do anything bad? I don't know."

"Well, I guess we'll just have to wait until Enzo wakes up and then talk to him about it," Luca said. "You're both more than welcome to stay, though."

Harper looked up at him with those big eyes of his. "I don't want to move," he said abruptly. "I like living here with you."

Luca smiled at him fondly. "Yeah, I like having you here, too, bud," he said.

Inside, though, Luca wasn't very optimistic. Just based off the conversation he heard between Enzo and Harper that first night, it didn't seem like Enzo was the type of person who wanted to get all buddy-buddy with him. 

__________________________________________________________

A/N: 

Enzo: Don't go making friends with that human, got it?

Harper: I'm going to go make friends with that human. 

Thanks for reading! What do you think Enzo's reaction will be when he discovers that Harper broke his promise? Don't forget to vote and comment. See you in the next part!