Enzo couldn't sleep that night.

Don't accept things from humans, his father had always warned. Because if you do, they'll start expecting things from you in return. Your freedom. Your dignity. Sometimes even your life. A scrap of food that you can easily borrow yourself is not worth giving up control over your life.

Enzo was out of the walls not even two days later. He had briefly considered taking Harper and fleeing, moving to a new apartment entirely. That's what his father had always pressed into his mind. But the more he thought about it, the more Enzo just... didn't want to.

Luca had caught them and... nothing bad had happened. In fact, the human had proved helpful and kind, putting Enzo somewhere safe and warm to sleep while he took care of Harper.

Enzo had to admit that he wanted to see Luca again. Not being alone? Being around someone who acted like they cared? Someone who actually could take care of him?

Enzo just couldn't resist. He was too scared and alone to keep trying on his own, and the second warmth was offered to him, Enzo found himself chasing after it like a moth to a flame.

I must be the biggest fool in this apartment building, Enzo thought, gritting his teeth as he pushed aside the outlet cover that led to Luca's desk.

But he was already hopping out of the wall, landing on the desk surface with a barely audible thump. Luca wasn't around, but the little makeshift nest-box was, the same sweatshirt still inside it.

Enzo couldn't help himself. He headed straight to it like it was a magnet, crawling into the soft folds of the material and laying down with a tired sigh.

Harper started to make little fussy noises, so Enzo pulled him around to his chest and patted his back until he was able to lull his baby brother to sleep. His own eyes heavy, Enzo closed them, thinking he would just rest a bit before going back into the walls.

***

And that's how Luca found them an hour later.

He happened to glance down at the box on his desk after class and did a double take. The tiny people from just a few days ago were nestled inside, both fast asleep. Luca crouched down immediately to be eye level with them, catching his breath so he didn't disturb them. Yup. It was them alright. Harper and Enzo.

What on earth are they doing out here? Luca wondered, lifting a hand to carefully pull down a fold of the sweatshirt to see his tiny guests better. Enzo twitched at the movement.

Luca thought for sure that he'd never see them again, despite Enzo's promise to tell him if they needed anything. Luca had known it was a lie, known that the little guy was just saying whatever he thought would get Luca to let him leave, agreeing with anything.

Luca had accepted it graciously, pretending to buy the lie as surely as Enzo was trying to sell it to him. Given the brothers' obviously weak condition, all Luca wanted was to keep them out here and take care of them, but what could he do?

Just remembering Enzo's terrified face and tear-filled eyes was enough to hold Luca back from scooping the brothers into his hands and placing them back into their little box nest for safe keeping. No. Luca knew any such actions would immediately shatter whatever tiny shred of trust was building between them.

This is his life, Luca had thought, watching the little guy leave. It's not my place to hijack it from him and tell him what's best. All I can do is be a safe person for him and hope that he has the good sense to take me up on my offer.

***

Enzo woke up a couple hours later, warm, but completely disoriented. He caught his breath. Where... where am I? he wondered, sitting up hesitantly.

A slight scratching noise caught his attention, and he whirled around to place it.

The human was there, working on homework just like he had been the other day. Enzo was struck by how huge he was, the kind of big that sucked the air out of your lungs as you realized how tiny and insignificant you were in comparison. He had somehow completely forgotten that feeling in his desperation to get back to someone warm.

Luca suddenly glanced down at the box, and Enzo stiffened. Luca didn't seem to notice his flinch as he smiled at him.

"Oh, hey, you're awake," he said, and Enzo started to shake, struck by a sudden rush of Deja vu.

No. Oh no. This was a bad idea. A massively stupid, horrifically bad idea, Enzo thought. Whatever courage had possessed him to leave the safety of the walls and seek out the human had disappeared, leaving Enzo with a slowly filling horror as he realized what he had done: willingly put himself in the hands of a giant.

A giant who had let him go once before, sure, but who knew if he'd do the same thing twice? No, it was much more likely that Luca regretted letting them leave the first time, and he would now keep them here.

Luca was starting to look concerned. "Enzo?" he repeated. "Hey, buddy, are you ok?"

Enzo could barely hear him over the staticky sound of blood rushing through his ears. His breath came out in tight pants, and he placed his hands on his knees to try to calm down.

Suddenly, he felt a very soft, warm weight on the top of his head, stroking downward over his hair and back.

He caught his breath, and the movement repeated itself, over and over again. Is... is he... petting me? Enzo thought in disbelief.

"Hey, it's ok, you're ok," came the human's voice, as soft as his touch. "You're doing great. Just keep breathing, ok?"

That's what I'm trying to do, Enzo wanted to retort, but all he could manage was a slight nod. He thought about waving the human off him, but he got used to the foreign touch after a minute. It actually proved kind of helpful, as he was able to time his breathing to it.

Eventually, he calmed down enough to straighten up, and Luca moved his hand away.

"Hey," the human said when Enzo lifted his head to look up at him. "You ok?"

Enzo nodded wordlessly, and Luca pushed back from the desk. "Let me go get you some water."

Alone again, Enzo took a few more breaths to steady himself. It's... it's ok, he thought, a little encouraged. He's treating me the same as he did last time. Maybe that means he'll let me go again, too.

Enzo sighed and leaned his head back against the cardboard box. How on earth did I think this would be a good idea? he wondered.

But as soon as Luca reappeared in the doorway, his eyes lighting up when he saw Enzo looking at him, Enzo knew exactly why he had come back out of walls.

"Here," the human said, placing a bottle cap next to Enzo. "Hope this helps."

Enzo picked it up silently. Luca was right, though. The chilled water helped clear his head. He peeked at Luca over the rim of the cap. The human was busying himself with tidying up his desk, but he glanced at Enzo after a minute and smiled at him.

Oh yeah, Enzo thought. An odd sense of calm settled over him. That's why I came back out here. To... to feel cared for.

"Feel any better?" Luca asked, taking a seat at the desk.

Enzo tried not to tremble as he put the bottle cap down. Even though he had come out of the walls to feel this warmth and kindness from Luca, he still couldn't just shake off an entire lifetime of instinctual fear.

"I'm ok," Enzo said quietly.

"Hmm." Luca accepted his answer, even though Enzo knew his little panic attack made him look anything but ok.

"It's good to see you again," Luca said next. "What have you been up to the last couple days? Do you need anything? Have you eaten yet?"

Bombarded by so many questions, Enzo just shook his head. "I, umm, I've just been...around," he answered lamely. "And umm, no, I haven't eaten yet."

"Oh, let me get you something!" Luca offered. He nodded at Harper, and Enzo glanced down to see his little brother was stirring awake in the fabric. "What can little man eat?"

Enzo smiled a bit at the nickname. "Anything," he said. "We can both eat anything."

Luca was gone and back within a few minutes, and Enzo felt substantially better after having some hot food in his stomach.

Harper had perked up, too, scarfing down his little meal so quickly that Enzo had to hand feed him so his baby brother wouldn't choke.

Luca, meanwhile, carried on a quiet conversation with Enzo, sharing about his day and worrying about one of his classes. He was careful about the questions he asked Enzo, making sure not to pry too much. Enzo appreciated it, though he was sure the human was curious.

Enzo relaxed more and more just listening to him. Having a conversation with someone like this made him feel... almost normal. Especially after the silence he'd been experiencing for the last two months.

***

It became a regular occurrence after that. Every few days, Enzo and Harper would be waiting for him when he got home from class. Sometimes the brothers would be awake, but more often than not, they'd be fast asleep in their little box nest.

It was the cutest thing Luca had ever seen, and he'd always sit at his desk beside them and work on homework until Enzo woke up. Then, he'd get the brothers something to eat and make light conversation with Enzo until the older brother decided it was time to disappear back into the walls.

Enzo never spoke much, his eyes and face still timid and guarded. All Luca really learned about him and baby Harper was that their parents were dead, and they had moved here a little over a month ago. But as the weeks went by, Luca watched as his shoulders gradually relaxed, and his face slowly lost its starving leanness.

Finally, Luca thought, relieved. He's looking so much better.

Little Harper was looking better, as well, his face now taking on a healthy roundness. He had more energy, too, and Luca could see he was a little bit of a handful for Enzo, who would often have to reel him in before the toddler explored off the edge of the desk.

Luca made Harper a wider playpen area on his desk and filled it with little trinkets for the baby to play with. It certainly seemed to put Enzo's mind at ease, as he could sit in it with Harper without having to chase him around.

Unlike Enzo, Harper seemed to have no clue that Luca was bigger than him. He'd smile and babble whenever Luca approached, lifting his tiny arms and making little grabby motions with his hands to be picked up.

Luca never did pick him up, as it seemed to worry Enzo. So, he'd just smile and talk to him, trying to coax the little boy into learning a few words.

Harper was already one, but the only word he knew was his brother's name. He liked to call out "Enz! Enz!" whenever he wanted his big brother's attention. It was so cute that Luca started calling Enzo that, too.

Enzo's eyes always softened when Harper called for him, but he made a face whenever Luca called him Enz. It was funny to see the normally timid and quiet little thing roll his eyes at him, so Luca called him Enz whenever he could, just to get a rise out of him.

After a while, however, Enzo seemed to get used to it, letting out a little scoff and giving Luca a faint smile whenever he called for him. It was nice to see Enzo coming out of his shell, as all Luca wanted was to be the boy's friend and for him to feel safe.

After a few more weeks, Luca apparently became "Yook," according to Harper. Enzo thought it was hilarious when Harper first let that word slip, doubling over and cracking up.

"Yook!" he'd repeated, shaking with laughter. "Oh my gosh, he thinks your name is Yook!"

It was the first time Luca had ever seen the boy smile, and it had mesmerized him. Enzo looked just like an angel.

________________________________________________________________

A/N: Luca now only answers to Yook.

Thanks for reading! Don't forget to vote or comment and see you in the last part of this AU!