(Check the reblog for the links to any future chapters)
A/n: Welcome to Thomas Perspective! Itâs had a few different names in production (one of which was Outnumbered Perspective) but rather than stick to our alphabet we decided to give this story the title it deserves. Hope you enjoy!
Thomas found that he enjoyed watching the humans go about their daily lives. Even if it was dangerous to do so. Usually, a borrower only really watched the humans long enough to get a feel for their schedule or as a quick check in to see if they were asleep so they could go out and borrow. But Thomas had found the four humans living in this building too interesting to simply stop watching them.
 Right now, he was looking through a vent that was right above Virgilâs bed. The human who lived on the first floor of the complex. Thomas found himself watching this human the most, only because he was at home the most. Only going to go to classes or sometimes he would go hang out with the other humans in the building as well.Â
 Virgil was currently in bed, on his laptop doing...something. Thomas couldnât actually see what it was. He leaned in a little closer, in order to try and see the screen better. Thomas frowned when Virgilâs head moved right in front of the screen and leaned closer accordingly.Â
 Thomasâ eyes widened as he kept leaning forward against his will and soon the vent was gone. Replaced by the open air below. He closed his eyes and landed with a hard âoof!â Thankfully, whatever he had landed on was pretty soft, so he shouldnât have more than a few bruises.Â
 He froze, when he realized the only thing he could have landed on was...He looked up, body going rigid. The human, Virgil, was staring at him.
Virgil let out an strangled noise of surprise, throwing his laptop to one side and throwing his body to the other.
 Thomas let out a similar noise as he found himself thrown off of Virgil and landing at the foot of the bed. He groaned as he laid there for a moment. It hadnât hurt too bad, but if he wasnât sure about that bruise before he was now.
âWhat the heck was that?!â Virgil scrambled to his feet, panicked at he tried to find the tiny thing on his bedspread again. His eyes locked onto it, and Virgil was relieved he didnât have to deal with the paranoia of it going missing.Â
 Thomas lifted up his head, eyes going up and locking with Virgilâs. Oh, this wasnât good. He had to get out of there! Thomas pushed himself up all the way, now standing on the uneven ground he did his best to make a run for it. He wasnât sure where he was trying to run to, he just knew he had to get as far away from the human as possible.
Oh geez, itâs fast. Thinking quickly, Virgil looked around for something to catch it. Spotting a cardboard box on his desk, he dumped the contents on the floor before turning it over on top of the creature.
 Thomas stopped when darkness fell over him. He blinked as his eyes adjusted quickly and frantically looked around. He put his hand against the wall, recognizing the material as cardboard. And a rather sturdy piece of cardboard at that.Â
 Thomas put his head in his hands. This was it. Virgil had caught him.Â
 ...Was this where it ended for him?
Virgil took a deep breath. He could do this. Adults took care of creepy things in their houses all the time.Â
Slowly, Virgil lifted the box up to check if it was still there.
 As light flooded back and chased away the darkness, Thomas once again caught a glimpse of the human. The borrower backed away, shaking with every step.
Virgilâs eyes widened, only now getting a proper look at what had fallen onto him earlier. It was some sort of...little person, no bigger than his hand.
â...no way.â Virgil spoke in a quiet breath, reaching his hand out to grab it.
 Thomasâ eyes widened as he saw Virgilâs hand coming towards him and without thinking, he put his arms out in front of him and yelled, âNo!â
The yell startled Virgil so much that the human yanked his hand back, dropping the box back down as well.
Virgil held his hand close to his chest, looking almost contemplatively at the box. â...you talked.â
 Thomas winced, no longer able to see Virgil but hearing him loud and clear. He had spoken, hadnât he? Broke one of the borrower rules...well, several at this point.
 Thomas sighed, maybe if he kept this going, he could convince Virgil to let him go?
 ...At the very least, maybe Virgil wouldnât kill him. âUh...yeah.â He called out, hoping it was loud enough for Virgil to hear.
Virgil lifted the box with both hands this time, completely revealing the tiny as he stared wide eyed down at him. âYou just did it again.â
 Pushing back his fear, Thomas nodded. âYeah, I can uh...do that.â The borrower said, a bit lamely.
âI.. who...what are you?â Virgil tossed the box aside, inching closer to the bed as he sat on his knees.Â
 Thomas bit his lip. It might be a bit too much to tell Virgil what he was. But telling Virgil his name should be fine, right? âYou can call me Thomas?â It came out as more of a question.
âThomas.â Virgil tried it out for himself, before realizing he should introduce himself. âIâm Virgil.â
 âI kno-â Thomas stopped himself, realizing that could go over badly. âI mean uh, cool.â Thomas bit his lip and looked off to the side, feeling a little awkward.
Virgil frowned, squinting suspiciously down at Thomas. â...why were you on my bed, Thomas?â
 Thomas tensed at not only the question, but Virgilâs gaze and tone. âUm, I didnât mean to be! I mean, I hadnât planned on falling on you or anything I just kind of...slipped.âÂ
Virgil looked up and around his bed, spotting the vent just above his head. Virgil turned back to Thomas, looking annoyed. âWere you spying on me?â
 Panic settled inside of Thomas and he took several steps back. Should he lie? It was technically true, but Virgil seemed very annoyed right now. Which was just one step away from being angry and an angry human was the worst kind to be around. âI, uhâŠâ Thomas trailed off before getting another idea.
 He turned around and started running again.
âHey!â Virgil all but launched himself onto the bed as he grabbed Thomas up with no hesitation this time. He glared down at Thomas, bringing him up to his face. âYou were spying!â
 Thomas struggled within Virgilâs grip but of course it was useless. The fingers surrounding him werenât going to give in. âOkay, okay! Yes, I was, but I didnât mean anything bad by it! I watch everyone in the building!â Thomasâ eyes widened when he realized saying that wouldnât exactly help his case. âI-I mean, well, I do but again, not in a bad way. I do it for uh...survival.â Thomas couldnât stop shaking. Why couldnât he have just kept his mouth shut.
âSurvival?â Virgil repeated. âWhat are you talking about?â After all, Virgil was just your average college kid who ate too much ramen and didnât get enough sleep. There was nothing especially extraordinary about him, which made the idea of a mini person watching him through the vents all the more creepy.
 Well, now Thomas had a choice to make. Should he reveal that sort of information? Or die keeping it to himself?
 ...Yeah, he was gonna go with that first option.
 âOkay. I...live inside the walls of this building. I borrow things from humans in order to survive and I watch all of you so I can see if itâs safe for me to...get things. Itâs-weâre not supposed to be caught, itâs dangerous.â Thomas pushed against the fingers again to make that last point.
âSo, let me get this straight.â Virgilâs voice went dangerously calm. âNot only have you been stalking us, youâre also a thief as well.â He gave Thomas a slight squeeze.
 Thomas gasped as the grip got tighter for a second. He looked up at Virgil with pleading eyes. âIâm sorry, Iâm really sorry, just please donât kill me!â
âWhy shouldnât I?â Virgil growled. Of course, looking down at Thomas Virgil knew he could never, ever do it. Virgil was too much of a wuss to even kill a spider. And he understood that sometimes people down on their luck occasionally felt the need to turn to a life of crime.
That being said...this was Virgilâs home. His safe space. The idea that someone had been trespassing and taking his things was deeply unsettling to Virgil, and he wanted to ensure it never happened again.
 Thomasâ eyes widened and he found his struggles ceasing. Heâs actually going to kill me. Thomas had been hoping Virgil wouldnât be like that, he had seemed nice enough but...of course you could never know for sure. Humans acted differently towards his kind because they saw them as lesser beings. Some treated them like pets, others like pests. I guess Iâm just a pest to Virgil.
 With downcast eyes, Thomas just barely held in his tears. âI-I donât know...I just donât-donât want to dieâŠâ
Virgil paused, realizing he might have gone too far. He felt Thomas shake in his hand. âAw, hey, come onâŠâ Virgil winced, bringing his other hand up to try and awkwardly pat the top of Thomasâ head.
 âAh!â Thomas tried his best to duck as he felt something come in contact with his head. He didnât want this to be it. He didnât want to die! âNo, please! Iâll do anything, please donât kill me!â Hot tears fell, staining his cheeks.
âCalm down!â Virgil held Thomas as far away from his body as possible, looking frantic. Oh no, what do I do⊠âIâm not going to kill you!â
 Thomas froze, slowly looking up at Virgil with tears still falling. âW-What?â Was this some sort of trick? A lie? âB-ButâŠI-you-the spying...and-and...â
âYeah, I know, butâŠâ Virgil groaned, rubbing his free hand across his face. âLook, Iâm still mad about that stuff, but Iâm not going to kill you over this. So just...calm down. Please.â Virgil really didnât know how to handle other peopleâs emotions. Or his own, for that matter.
 Thomas bit his lip. âY-You promise? This isnât some trick and you arenât just going to kill me anyways?â He knew humans to be cruel and loved to play what they thought to be jokes, but was really just a cruel form of torture.
âNo!â Virgil made a face at Thomasâ suggestion. âUgh, no. Iâm not trying to deceive you or anything, I promise. Really, I may act scary but I wouldnât hurt a fly.â This also had to do with the fact that flies tend to fly fast and Virgil was an inherently lazy human, but he didnât mention that.
 âO-Okay.â Thomas didnât know why, but he believed him. It was true, that out of all the times he had watched Virgil, the one time he had seen him interact with a fly had been of opening a window to let it out.
 So, that was good. Virgil wasnât going to kill him. But that still left a very important question. âThen, what are you going to do?â
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âNow, now, Roman,â the second voice piped up, âIâm sure they were fine. You never know what they could be going through.â
âAlright, alright,â the humanâRomanâreplied.
The smaller voice paused for a moment. âIs he alright?â
âHeâs fine,â the human promised the second voice, a quiet reassurance. His voice then softened a tad more. âBut youâre going to have to be gentler with this one. He seems to beâŠeasily provoked.â
Easily provoked, Logan sneered inwardly, what did he know about being easily provoked?
The second voice laughed a bit gentler. âItâll be fine. This isnât the first time, you know.â
âYes, I know.â
The box suddenly began to tilt and the second voice hissed quickly.
âEasy!â He said, âwarn him, Roman, you know how important it is for him to feel safe and listened to.â
Roman sucked in a sharp breath. âRight. Sorry. Sort of slipped my mind,â he mused quietly, then raised his tone a bit more to show Logan that he was indeed talking to him. âHey, Iâm gonna tilt the box to make this interaction easier, alright?â
Logan only gave an annoyed huff in response, as he slid on the still, slightly tilted angles of the box.
It seemed his movements had been enough of a go-ahead and the box finished turning, before finally settling and staying situated where it was.
The two flaps on the top of the containerâthe front of it now as it was sitting sidewaysâbegan to crack open and light flooded into the darkness, causing the borrower to wince and lift a hand to block his eyes. As soon as he was used to it, he removed his hand and let it sit down on the cardboard.
When he looked up, Logan felt his stomach drop.
He was not looking back into a pair of large brown eyes like he thought he would, but was instead focused on the form of another borrower. He almost didnât know what to do or what to say, his mind was racing a mile a minute and when the other took a step forwards, Logan matched it with a step backwards.
The other paused, seeing the flight taking over Loganâs features. The fight had been washed behind for a moment.
âHey, itâs okay,â the other borrower promised, lowering himself into a crouch to stay on the same level as him. âI know this probably seems really weird, huh?â
Nodding wordlessly, Loganâs eyes searched over the newcomerâs form. âYou could say that.â
Weird seems like an understatement.
This wasnât exactly how he thought this entire thing would be going. Logan had been so confident that this was the end of the line, but here he was, facing another of his kind who seemed to be relatively unhurt. At least, from what he could see. The silhouette of the other could be hiding bruises that would remain unseen until he got closer.
âWhatâs the meaning of this?â He finally spoke up, unable to handle the silence any longer. âWhat on earth are you waiting for?â
âFor you to be a little less defensive, first of all,â he heard Romanâs voice rumble from above, but the human remained out of his sight-line.
The other borrower raised a hand and quickly managed to silence the larger being and Logan was floored yet again. The human was listening to someone his size? What sort of hell was this? What had he been brought into?
âThis probably seems really untrustworthy,â the other said again, getting a nod in response from the bespectacled male. âA borrower and a human? Hard to believe, I get that. But youâre going to have to trust me for a little bit, at least long enough to help you get home.â
Logan almost stammered for words at that. âYouâreâ youâre not being kept here against your will?â
âHeavenâs no,â the other replied, a grin crossing over his features. He adjusted himself so he was sitting comfortably and allowing Logan to relax as well. Creating a more inviting environment would make it easier for conversation to ensue. Thomas knew what it was like to be on the receiving end of humans in all of their terrifying glory, so he knew how to handle the otherâs frightened behaviour. âIâve been allowed to come and go as I please, but Roman has been a rather gracious host.â
âIâd say so,â the human countered, but in a more playful tone than anything else. âI get why youâre so defensive though.â
âOh you do?â Logan raised his voice a bit more, prompting the other to speak again.
âYouâve been stuck in a cage for God knows how long, no wonder youâre sick of human interaction,â Roman continued. âLook, you can believe me or not, but the both of us really do want to help you get home.â
âSo, maybe we can start this by you coming out,â the other borrower pushed himself into a stand, catching Loganâs attention once more. âNo one is going to touch you or grab you without your permission, I promise.â
He watched as the other even backed up a couple paces, looking earnest but genuine and as much as Logan hated this situation, he hated the box more.
With a huff, he drew himself into a stand as well and slowly made his way toward the opening of the box. It wasnât comfortable, not really, knowing that there was someone constantly watching him, but there wasnât much he could do to change that. So, he pressed on.
While it did take an extra moment to steel his nerves, it wasnât long before Logan ducked under the open flap of the confinement and onto the smooth texture of the kitchen table.
It had been a while since he hadnât been surrounded by something. Taking in another breath, it almost felt better in a way. It was like a fresh moment of finally being in the most freedom he had had since he was caught. While the freedom was emotional, he wasnât going to allow himself to revel in it. Not until he was with the people that mattered the most.
Thomas grinned a bit more, a softer light in his eyes and Logan felt oddly reassured. âSee? Itâs not so bad out here, is it?â
âI suppose not,â he adjusted his glasses before crossing his arms over his chest. His eyes flickered between both the human and the other before shifting anxiously back and forth between his feet. âI must admit, while I had my suspicions, you seem fairlyâŠgenuine.â Roman seemed to nearly preen at the information. âBut that does not excuse the fact that I was still bought.â
âIt wasnât as if I was doing it to keep you,â the explanation came hastily afterwards, âall of it was just an act to get you out of there.â
âAnd while I appreciate that, a little forewarning would have been appreciated so I didnât need to be fearing for my life on the drive here.â
Roman frowned lightly. âYou were fearing for your life?â
Once he heard it coming from another source, Logan dropped his gaze, nearly feeling unsure at this point. It sounded fairly pathetic now that it had been said aloud.
âWell, what did you really expect of me? Iâve been treated like nothing more than a toy by countless other humans and I have come to lose my faith in humanity altogether.â He snipped, before taking a breath to steady himself. âI have been away from my family for nearly six months at this point and I have no inkling whatsoever to how they may be currently faring.â
The surprised expressions on the others features did nothing to phase him. Nor was he going to console them.
âThough, it seems I may have overestimated and been wrong by the accusationâonly because you and yourâŠfriend,â he motioned to the borrower that stood a few paces away from himâalthough, saying âfriendâ when referring to another borrower and a human was odd and somewhat grounding in a wayâand he kept his hands tucked into a folded position, âhave been pleasant enough to offer your assistance. Not many people would do that and thatâ does mean a lot.â
âThank you,â the human said after a moment, âI think.â
âYes, it was a compliment,â Logan agreed after a hesitant moment, because complimenting one of the members of the human race just felt wrong to him. It felt as if there should be no congratulating of the kind. He had only gone through Hell and back and here he was, standing in the presence of a human and his borrower companion.
Summary: The human knows that theyâre there and asks to meet. Thomas goes alone despite Virgilâs warnings.
Warnings: Fear and panic
Yes, I am still trying to get these prompts out lol.Â
 âThomas, stop!â Virgil yelled from behind him, but Thomas kept on walking. He rounded the corner, his destination set.
âThomas!â Virgil yelled again but Thomas grit his teeth and carried on.
 âGo home, Virgil. You donât have to be involved in this.â Thomas said. He just wanted Virgil to be safe.
 âYou know heâs just going to hurt you, right?â That made Thomas stop in his tracks for a moment. He let out a shaky sigh as he turned his head to look at Virgil.
 âI...I know.â Thomas swallowed the lump forming in his throat. âBut I donât have a choice, especially if it means keeping you safe.â Thomas looked at Virgil sadly before walking once more. Virgil growled but Thomas knew he was more scared and panicked than angry.
 âLetâs just ignore him and move. Leave and go somewhere far away where heâll never be able to find us.â Virgil tried, still following Thomas. Once again, Thomas stopped and this time turned all the way around. He stood in front of Virgil eyes sad and pleading.
 âVirgil, you know we canât do that.â He said softly. âHe has my picture, if I donât do this, our whole species could be revealed.â
 Virgil shook his head. âBut if you do do this he could still reveal you. And heâd have even better proof!â Thomas looked away.
 âI know but I just have to hope...I have to hope that doesnât happen. Now please, Virgil, go back home. And if Iâm not back by tomorrow then...then please move out of the building, somewhere far away, okay?â Virgil shook his head again, tears rushing down his cheeks. Thomas pulled him into a hug before slowly pulling away. âI have to go Virgil or Iâm going to be late.â
 Thomas took several steps back and this time Virgil stayed where he was, hugging himself. â...Be careful Thomas. For the love of god be careful.â Virgil said and Thomas nodded.
 âIâll see you later Virgil.â
 â...Yeah. I hope so.â And with that, both Thomas and Virgil turned in the opposite direction. One heading home and one headed for what could very well be his demise.
 Oh well. Thomas thought. At least I know Virgil will be safe.
***
 Thomas had no reason to suspect he was being anything other than careful. He was doing as he always did when going out to borrow. Not taking too much, making sure the human of the place was away or asleep, wearing clothes that helped blend him into the night, all that good stuff.
 So when both Thomas and Virgil found a note in the kitchen that simply said âI want to talkâ along with a time and place to meet, he thought nothing of it. Virgil was a bit worried, of course, but Thomas was quick to reassure him that the note wasnât for them. How could it be?
 Oh, had Thomas been wrong.
 The night after the meeting was supposed to have taken place, another note appeared in the exact same spot. This time, there was no denying that the note was for them. Because attached to the note was a picture.
 The picture itself was dark, out of focus and far away, but there was no denying that Thomas was in the picture. The note that time, said, âI know you exist. I simply want to talk.â And then another time and place to meet.
 And thatâs why Thomas found himself here, on the humanâs desk in his room, nervously waiting for the human to show up. Every instinct within him was shouting at him to hide and leave but Thomas ignored them. He knew he had to do this, if not for his kind then for Virgil.
 It was then that the bedroom door opened and Thomas whirled around the see the human come in. The humanâs gaze immediately fell on the desk and he paused, eyes going wide. Thomas was frozen as well, heart pounding against his chest.
 âYou...came.â The human spoke, stepping a bit closer. âHonestly, I am surprised.â
 Thomas bit his lip, taking in a breath. âYou uh, you didnât really give me much of a choice.â The borrower said, not looking at the human directly.
 The human hummed but didnât say anything as he took a seat at the desk. Thomas took a few steps back, watching the human warily. The human looked him over and Thomas shivered at his gaze. A few moments of silence passed and Thomas was just about to speak up when the human spoke. âDo you know how impossible you are?â
 Thomas blinked. âWh-What?â
 âYou shouldnât exist at all, according to the square-cube law and yet...here you are.â The human was being very calm about all this, which was just putting Thomas off even more.
 âYeah...here I am,â Thomas said a bit weakly. He took in a breath. âLook, Iâm here. I came to this meeting...now what?â Thomas asked. He just wanted to know what was going to happen to him.
 The human raised an eyebrow. âWell, like I stated in my note, I simply wish to speak with you. Ask you a few questions.â The human explained.
 âAnd...what about the picture? You-You arenât going to show anyone...are you?â Thomas asked and the human gave him a confused look.
 âI am to assume that humans are not supposed to know about you, correct?â The human said and Thomas tensed but nodded. âWhy?â
 Thomas was thrown off for a second. âWhat?â
 âWhy arenât humans supposed to know of you.â The human asked and Thomas felt his eyebrows furrow.
 âIsnât it...obvious? If humans found out about u-er me than they would kill us, or experiment on us or-or keep us as petsâŠâ He trailed off, nervously looking to meet the human's eyes. He was surprised to find that the humanâs eyes were wide.
 âAh...I seeâŠâ The human coughed awkwardly. âYes, I can...see why you keep yourself secret.â
 âWait, really?â Thomas asked, his own eyes going wide. The human nodded.
 âYes and I can assure you, I will not be showing you off or doing any of those things. Like I stated, I simply want to converse with you.â The human spoke. Thomas searched his eyes but he couldnât find a hint of deception or malice. The human was...telling the truth.
 âOh...well in that case, my name is Thomas.â Thomas introduced with a bit of a nervous smile. The human blinked in surprise before returning it.
 âMy name is Logan. It is nice to meet you.â Logan reached out his hand towards Thomas and the borrowerâs eyes widened before realizing Logan was not coming to grab him but to shake hands as a greeting. He reached out his hand to meet Loganâs when suddenly, a shout came from above.
 âLeave him alone!â Before either borrower or human could react, Thomas watched as something landed on Loganâs head.
 âAh!â Logan yelled, wincing as his hair was pulled. Thomasâ eyes widened when he realized who exactly was on Loganâs head.
 âVirgil?!â He yelled and Virgil looked down at Thomas, pulling hard on a piece of hair.
 âThomas, run! I got this!â Virgil yelled before moving to a different strand of hair and pulling once more.
 âWhat is going-Ow!â Logan tried to say but was interrupted by another hard pull. Thomas didnât run, instead, he came closer.
 âVirgil, stop!â He yelled up but at that point, Logan had had enough. He reached his hand up and blindly grabbed Virgil in a loose fist. Virgil yelped and immediately started to struggle.
 âLet me go!â Virgil yelled, pushing against the humanâs fingers but to no avail. Logan let out a small sigh as he looked Virgil over.
 âPlease calm down, I mean you no harm.â Of course, Loganâs words did nothing to calm Virgil down. Thomas bit his lip, looking between Virgil and Logan.
 âLogan put him down!â Thomas demanded. He was only half surprised that Logan actually did, setting Virgil down right next to Thomas. As soon as Virgil was on solid ground he grabbed Thomasâ arm and started to pull him towards their exit. Thomas dug his feet into the ground and pulled his hand away. Virgil turned and gave him an incredulous look.
 âThomas, what are you doing. Letâs go already!â  Virgil hissed, sending nervous glances toward Logan as he once again tried to grab Thomasâ arm. Thomas didnât let him.
 âVirgil, heâs telling the truth!â Thomas exclaimed and Virgil froze.
 âWh-What?â Virgil stuttered, more than a little confused. Logan cleared his throat, gaining both borrowers attentions.
 âHe is correct. I mean you no harm. I simply wish to speak to Thomas...and you, if you are willing.â Logan was not surprised at the existence of more tiny people, though he was surprised that another had shown up. Especially in the way that he did. Logan rubbed at his head.
 âYouâre...Youâre lying.â Virgil said but Thomas shook his head, putting a comforting hand on Virgilâs shoulder.
 âI really donât think he is.â Virgil searched Thomasâ eyes before sighing.
 âThis is insane.â He muttered to Thomas, who just shrugged with a sheepish smile.
 âSo you are...Virgil?â Logan asked and Virgil simply nodded. âItâs good to meet you, despite the er...rough first impression. My name is Logan.â
 Virgil searched Loganâs eyes but was surprised, just as Thomas had been, to find no traces of malice. He glanced at Thomas who gave an encouraging nod. âUh...nice to meet you too,â Virgil mumbled after a second of hesitation. Logan smiled.
 âSoâŠâ Thomas started. âYou had some questions for us?â
âVirgil?â Roman knocked on his best friendâs door, waiting for a response. âVirgil if you donât answer I suppose Iâll be forced to steal your Tim Burton posters as payment for your lack of hospitality.â
Of course, Roman was well aware that Virgil was currently in class. He just said that so he would have a reason to âborrowâ more of Virgilâs iconic Disney merch for the week as he let himself into Virgilâs apartment.
This was not an unexpected event, though it slipped Virgilâs mind this morning. Often Roman would come over unannounced. So often, in fact, that Roman had his own apartment key.Â
âWell, I suppose I just have to take them now.â Roman sighed dramatically to the empty apartment, gleefully heading into Virgilâs bedroom.Â
 Thomas suddenly stiffened at the sound of a familiar voice calling out into the apartment. But not the familiar voice he was okay with, oh no. This was the human who lived on the fifth floor. Roman.Â
 Thomas jumped to his feet, looking for somewhere to hide but quickly realized there wasnât any. He was trapped inside the cage and the cage was open and empty for all to see. Well, empty save for himself of course.
 He could hear Roman coming towards the bedroom and so Thomas thought fast. He curled himself up into a tiny ball in the far corner and just prayed Roman would look over him. It was the only thing he could do.
Roman entered Virgilâs room, humming a tune to himself as he gathered the posters from the closet. As Roman was just about to leave, however, he spotted something out of the ordinary.
âHelloooooo, whatâs this?â Roman came over to inspect the cage further. Had Virgil gotten another hamster and not told him? But...why was a blanket stuffed inside? Roman frowned, trying to peer through the bars for any source of life. Upon the first glance, Roman didnât spot anything, but on the second glance...Roman gasped, posters falling out of his arms in surprise.
 No, no, no, no, no, no, not again! He didnât move from his ball, but he could hear from the gasp that Roman had realized he was in there.Â
 ...This wasnât going to be fun.
Roman quickly took the roof off the structure, removing it so he could get a better look. Noticing the creature was still curled up in a ball, Roman wasted no time in scooping it out into his palms.
 âAh!â Thomas yelped, as he was scooped up. He was unfurled from his tight ball and now lying down on Romanâs hand. Thomas tentatively looked up at the human, a look of fear on his face.
âWoah.â Roman gazed in awe down at the tiny...thing. Tiny person? Why on Earth was Virgil keeping a tiny person locked up in a cage inside his bedroom? âWho are you?âÂ
 Thomas gulped. Now he had another choice to make, essentially the same choice as before. Should he speak to this human? He already had a deal going on with Virgil, so his best bet would be to stay with him...unless Roman was willing to let him go. But Thomas had the sneaky suspicion that would not be the case.
 âI'm...Thomas.â He decided to answer.Â
âThomas, itâs...certainly interesting to meet your acquaintance.â Roman paused, looking at the setup before him. âMy name is Roman. Now would you kindly explain...why exactly I find you locked in a...hamster cage in my best friendâs apartment?â
 Thomas bit his lip. âUm...he...thinks heâs helping me?â Thomas answered. âHe said it was temporary, though Iâm not sure what the alternatives are,â Thomas admitted. Obviously, Virgil would want to keep him trapped still. So whatever Thomas decided would just be some glorified cage.
âHmm.â Roman raised an eyebrow. âWell, he certainly seems to be doing a poor job of it.â Roman began walking away from the desk, posters forgotten.
 âIâll say,â Thomas muttered, agreeing with Roman completely. He wobbled a little as he realized Roman was moving. âUhâŠ?â
âClearly someone else would be far more suited to assisting you,â Roman said, eyes practically shining as he clearly has designated himself for that role. âI, of course, would be more than up to the task!â Roman all but dashed out of Virgilâs apartment, heading up to his own room on the 5th floor.
 Thomas yelped as Roman basically took off running out of Virgilâs apartment. Oh no, this wasnât good at all. âA-Actually, you would help me a lot by um...letting me go?â Thomas asked, deciding to give that a chance.
âYes, of course, just a moment.â Roman barely paid him attention, coming into his own apartment. âAh, home sweet home.â With a blissful sigh, Roman headed into the bedroom.
âAaaaand...there!â Roman let Thomas go onto the bed.
 Thomas looked around at his new surroundings, now on top of Romanâs bed. With Roman looming over him. He shivered. âUh, thanks, but I actually meant, like, letting me go, go. As in, back to my own home and...yeah.â Thomas fidgeted with his sleeves. He hated not knowing how Roman was going to react. At least with Virgil, he could guess how he would react to some things.
âOh, come on.â Roman sat down on the ground, leaning forwards on his bed to get a good look at Thomas. âSurely you donât want to go back to Virgil so soon. The guy can be an absolute bore.â Roman made a fake yawning motion to demonstrate.
 âUh, no actually, I meant my-I meant my real home. In-In umâŠâ He debated for a hot second if he should reveal that or not, before deciding it might help him more if he did. âIn the walls.â
âIn the walls?â Roman reeled back as if repelled by the notion. âHow ghastly! Why, even Cinderellaâs mice were not fully confined to such a fate.â
 Thomas winced. âItâs uh...really not that bad.â He defended.
âOh, how modest of you.â Roman rustled Thomasâ hair. Truly if Thomas were bigger he would pinch his cheek. âBut Thomas, worry no longer. I am certain I can construct a suitable abode fit for a prince of your stature.â
 Thomas flinched away from the touch, gasping in fright. He had not been expecting the human to do that. âB-ButâŠâ
âOh, Iâm sure I have some spare materials lying about in my workspace.â Roman scooped Thomas up once more, heading over to his desk that was a mess of half-finished ideas and various crafting scraps.
 Thomas yelped as he was taken by surprise yet again by Roman scooping him up. He was much more grabby than Virgil that was for sure. At least Virgil offered his hand to him near the end there.
 Okay, so Roman wasnât going to let him go. Which meant his best bet was to still get back to Virgil somehow. âUh...W-Wonât Virgil be mad once he notices Iâm not there?âÂ
Roman ignored the question for a moment in favor of placing Thomas on the desk near his own arm. Roman cleared off a space in front of himself, pulling out a clean sheet of paper and some pens.Â
âWhat Virgil doesnât know wonât hurt him,â Roman answered finally. âBesides, heâs not meant to be back until 3. That leaves me plenty of time. He said he was looking for a new cage, and youâre clearly in need of a more ideal living space. Itâs a win-win!â
 This was literally the last thing he wanted, being discovered by another human. At least Roman was planning on giving him back to Virgil...he hoped. Either way, Thomas was gonna be on the lookout for a chance to escape. Since he was no longer confined it would definitely be easier to. Especially if Roman became too focused on whatever he was doing. So Thomas stood there and waited.
âNow, where should we start?â Roman asked, turning to Thomas.
 âUm,â Thomas had no idea. He wasnât really looking forward to planning out his own prison. But he had to think of something if he wanted to distract Roman enough to try and get away. âWe can start with...shape?â Thomas shrugged.
â...shape,â Roman repeated, one eyebrow raised.
 Thomas bit his lip. Was that the wrong thing to say? âUh...yeah? Like the-like the shape of the cage youâre designing?â
âItâs not a cage.â Roman insisted, finishing his initial sketch to turn it around and show Thomas. âItâs a castle.â He grinned down at the little guy, clearly eager for his response.
 Thomasâ eyes widened. âWhoa.â The design Roman had created was extravagant, to say the least. And he had done so in such little time, Thomas couldnât even think to escape. But the design was very much like out of a fairytale castle.
âNow, this is only a rough sketch, of course.â Roman turned his drawing back towards himself, frowning down at it. âAnd weâll have to find the necessary materials, though I have some supplies here and Iâm sure I could get more from the prop room. Iâm just not sure what itâs missing...obviously bedroom, dining room, drawbridge, towerâŠ.â
 Thomas hummed, watching as Roman continued to mutter to himself as he looked down at the page. Biting his lip, he wondered if now would be a good time to try and leave. Was Roman distracted enough? He took a few steps back to start off, watching Roman warily.
âIs one zipline enough?â Roman asked aloud, not looking up from his page.
 Thomas blinked. âUh, yeah.â What the heck was Roman designing? He couldnât seriously think he would be able to build all of that. Thomas had to admit it would be a nice place to live in but that wouldnât make him any less trapped. Despite what Roman said, it was still a cage.
 Roman seemed distracted enough though, so Thomas decided to take his chance. He didnât immediately run but started walking towards the edge. Thankfully, Roman had a lamp on his desk as well, which he could use the cord to get down with.
âOh, but two would look so perfectâŠâ Roman sighed, putting his chin in his hand as he pondered it. âIâm gonna put two,â Roman said decidedly, adding to his sketch.
 As Thomas made it to the cord, he couldnât believe it. He might actually make it out of there. With a smile, Thomas gripped the cord and quickly started to shimmy down it.
âOoh, but I could do four!â Roman gasped. âOne for each of the corners! Thomas, what do you think?â Roman turned to look at the tiny, only now to realize he wasnât there. Roman blinked. â...Thomas?â
 Thomas woke up to light shining through and hitting him in the eyes. He groaned and tried to turn away from the light, but it was too late, he was already too awake to go back to sleep. So, he sat up, taking in his surroundings,
 He was still in the cage, still with Virgil. Speaking of, the human was still asleep in bed. Thomas wasnât about to call out to the human, so he decided to grab his bag and rummage through it. Organize everything to pass the time.
 Feeling hungry, Thomas tore off a piece of his noodle and started to eat it. It was definitely cold at this point, which gave it a different taste, but it wasnât bad.
Eventually, a loud beeping sound began to go off from Virgilâs nightstand. He groaned, reaching over and shutting off the alarm.Â
Slowly Virgil sat up in bed, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He blinked sleepily, glazed eyes falling onto the cage sitting atop his desk.
â...oh. Right.â Virgil yawned, stretching his arms as he got out of bed to greet the tiny still sitting in his old hamster cage. âMorning.â
 Thomas finished his bite before replying. âGood morning.â He had decided that being polite and going along with Virgil for the week would help him better at the end of the week. Maybe Virgil would listen to him about still wanting to go home.
Virgil raised an eyebrow when he noticed Thomas munching on a cold ramen noodle. He wanted to offer Thomas some actual breakfast, but...well, all Virgil had to offer was just more ramen. He really needed to go shopping.Â
âDo you drink coffee?â Virgil asked, bending down to unlatch the cage door.
 Thomas raised an eyebrow. âCoffee?â The name was familiar, but Thomas couldnât picture it.
âSacred bean juice?â Virgil joked. âLifeblood of college students?â
 Thomas blinked. â...What?â
âItâs a drink.â Virgil chuckled tiredly. âCâmon, Iâll go make some and you can try it.â He set his palm down on the desk.
 Thomas looked down at the hand, knowing what Virgil was asking of him, but wondering if he could actually do it. He was surprised Virgil hadnât just grabbed him. Maybe they were finally done with that at the very least.
 Thomas took in a deep breath and carefully walked forward. He stopped just short of climbing on, before doing so in a quick motion. He settled down in Virgilâs palm.
 He couldnât believe he had just stepped into a humanâs hand willingly. He really was stupid.
Virgil lifted his hand slowly, trying not to internally panic too much at the thought that there was someoneâs life in his hands and oh god donât drop him-
âThere, easy.â Virgil, contrary to his internal attitude, maintained a carefree exterior as he deposited Thomas on the counter before focusing on starting the coffee pot.
 Thomas stepped a bit closer as he watched Virgil making the coffee. He suddenly recognized it. âOh! Thatâs what thatâs called? I always saw you drinking it, but I never knew what it was.â He suddenly covered his mouth, realizing what he had said. The last thing he had wanted was to bring all that back up again. He didnât wanna make Virgil mad.
Instead of being mad, Virgil just snorted. It was kind of amusing to be thought of as âthe guy who keeps drinking coffeeâ.Â
âItâs basically an energy drink,â Virgil explained, pouring some into a mug of his own. âIt helps keep me awake and...hang on.â Virgil glanced between the mug and Thomas, realizing they were almost the same height. He frowned, bringing a hand to his chin. âOkay, I may not have thought this through.â
 Thomas sighed in relief when Virgil wasnât mad. He chuckled a little at that. âDonât worry, I have a solution.â He rummaged through his bag before coming up with a bit of tinfoil. He started to mold it, matching what Virgilâs mugs looked like. Before long, he had a miniature foil version. âTa-da!â He exclaimed, holding it up for Virgil to see.
Virgil leaned in, squinting to see what Thomas had made. â...howâd you do that?â Virgil said incredulously, impressed.
 Thomas shrugged, pulling the mug back to him. âJust molded some tinfoil, no big deal really,â Thomas said, laughing a bit.
âNo big deal?â Virgil set his own mug down on the counter. âI certainly couldnât do that. But go ahead, help yourself.â
 Thomas blushed, before coughing to cover it up and heading towards the mug. He had to go on his tippy toes to reach, but he managed to scoop himself a cup. Backing away a bit so he wasnât in the way of Virgil grabbing his mug back, he took a careful sip.
 ...And immediately spit it back out. That was...gross. And he usually wasnât picky. âItâs...umâŠâ Thomas was having trouble finding the right words. He didnât want to insult Virgilâs favorite drink after all.
âOh, Oops.â Virgilâs smirk made it clear that was no mistake. He had just wanted to see Thomasâ reaction. âI forgot to add the sweeteners.â Virgil pulled out the coffee creamer- one of the few necessities still stocked in his fridge- and mixed it into his mug to turn the dark liquid a milky brown.
 Thomas glared at Virgil before rolling his eyes and dumping the pure black coffee back into the mug and taking another cupful. He took another sip, much more hesitant this time. However, he was pleasantly surprised to find it tasted a lot better. He could still taste an underline of bitterness, but all the sweeteners helped to balance it out.
 âThat is a lot better,â Thomas admitted, taking another sip.
âYeah, itâs better this way.â Virgil took his own mug back. âJust donât go telling everyone I donât drink it black. I canât have you exposing all of my emo secrets.â
 Thomas raised an eyebrow, taking another sip. âWho would I even tell?â It wasnât like he knew anyone else. There werenât any other borrowers in this building and he was dead set on not talking to any more humans.
âHmm, good point.â Virgil began taking a large swig of his own drink, already feeling more awake as the hot liquid all but burned his throat.Â
 Thomas finished his cup, looking at the empty foil left in its place. âSo uh...whatâs on the agenda for today?â Thomas asked.
âWell, unfortunately, Iâve got class soon.â Virgil gave a glare at the clock as if it was the clockâs fault Virgilâs class schedule was so early. âAnd Iâve already skipped twice this week so Iâve got to go, but after I was thinking we can start figuring out a more...ideal living situation.â
 âUm...yeah, that sounds...good.â Anything was better than that cage, at the very least. He put his empty foil back in his bag.
â...Do you want to go to class with me?â Virgil decided to put out the offer, despite the fact he thought it was a horrible idea. After all, he had nowhere to put Thomas, and there would be loads of idiots surrounding them on all sides constantly.
 âNo!â Thomas shouted, before wincing. âI mean, um, no thanks. Iâll just...stay here.â He did not want to go somewhere where there were hundreds of humans, nuh-uh, no thanks.
âYeah, no problem.â Virgil nodded quickly. âI didnât think it was a good idea, but I thought Iâd offer. Letting you choose and all.â
Virgil gave an awkward cough, looking back at the bedroom door. âOf course, that means more time in...uhâŠâ
 Thomas deflated. âRight.â It beat going to Virgilâs school though, at the very least. âThatâs...fine.â Not really, but Virgil already knew how he felt about it.
âIâm sorry.â Virgil winced in sympathy. He really wished there was another way. âBut I promise, as soon as I get home weâll get rid of it.â He set his palm down on the counter, once again waiting for Thomas.
 Thomas only nodded, walking onto Virgilâs palm, a little less hesitant than before. He hoped whatever new accommodation they came up with was better than the old hamster cage.
Virgil set down his coffee mug so that he could use both hands to keep Thomas safe as he walked back to the bedroom. He set his hands down on the desk, making sure the cage door was still open.
 Thomas stepped off and looked back up at Virgil before sighing and walking into the cage. Again, better not to fight against it for a better chance at being let go in a week.
â...Iâll be back soon,â Virgil promised, feeling bad for the little guy. âJust a few hours, tops.â
 Thomas just nodded.
Virgil sighed, closing the cage door. He gathered up his backpack, stuffing the last of his notes into the bag. With one last pitying look thrown Thomasâ way, Virgil headed to class.
 Thomas slumped against the back of the cage, looking up. There really was nothing for him to do except wait...and think.Â
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Virgil glanced at the clock, realizing it was getting late. Maybe some food would help lift Virgilâs mood and get Thomas to trust him.
âHey Thomas,â Virgil tried taking a slightly calmer tone, âare you hungry?â
 Thomas went to shake his head but stopped when his stomach growled, as if answering Virgilâs question for him. He blushed.
âIâll take that as a yes,â Virgil smirked. He stood up, pausing before he left. â...uh, what do you eat, exactly?â
 Thomas sighed. âAnything.â He said simply.
âAlright.â Virgil shrugged, heading to the kitchen. It was kind of pointless to ask Thomas in the first place, considering there was only one thing in his cupboards. Virgil began heating up a pot of water on the stove, putting some ramen into the pot and stirring it around. Slowly the food began to take form.Â
Now Virgil faced a new problem. He began dishing out some for himself, looking around for a proper dish for Thomas.Â
âSorry.â Virgil returned, carrying two bowls. He set them down on the desk, opening up the cage door. âThis is the smallest bowl I could find.â Virgil set the saucer inside near Thomas. âAlso I...donât have any tiny silverware.â
 Thomas stood up as the bowl was set down in front of him. It smelled so good, he had to admit. At first, he had been thinking about not eating as a form of protest but...he was hungry. And this might be his only chance at finally having warm food.
 Giving in, Thomas did what he saw the humans do and blow on the food before grabbing a noodle out. He took a bite, eyes closing in pure bliss. It was just so...nice. His insides actually felt warm.
Virgil smiled slightly over the lip of his own bowl, glad to see Thomas enjoying it.
 Thomas continued to eat until he found he couldnât eat anymore. Huh, this must be what if felt like to be full. He looked in the bowl, only to see he had maybe eaten only a third of it. There was still plenty to eat for later.Â
 Opening up his bag, he made some room before grabbing a noodle and rolling it up, placing it inside.
Virgil paused, his utensil halfway to his lips. â...what are you doing?â
 Thomas froze, forgetting he had an audience. â...Nothing.â
âOh my gosh,â Virgil said in realization. âYou were just âborrowingâ, werenât you? When thereâs literally more food still just sitting in front of you.â
 Thomas winced. âI-Itâs a force of habit, okay?â Thomas bit his lip. âAnd itâs for...just in case.â Just in case Virgil decided to change his mind and he wouldnât be getting any more meals.
âWhatever.â Virgil just sipped more of his own ramen, fighting the urge to roll his eyes again. He didnât care if Thomas took a few noodles, it just felt stupid.
 Thomas sighed in relief but decided not to take any more noodles. He closed his bag up before heading towards the far corner of the cage and sitting down.
â...are you still hungry?â Virgil asked, watching the borrower sulk off. He hadnât meant to drive Thomas further away.Â
 Thomas simply shook his head, gripping the strands of his bag tighter subconsciously. He was thankful for the food, sure, but that didnât negate his current situation. He was in a cage, after all. Trapped with a human that saw his actions for survival, crimes. A full belly was not worth all that.
Virgil took out the saucer, closing the cage door before bringing both sets of dishes back into the kitchen. He scrubbed them off, trying to think about what he should do next. What was one supposed to do with a borrower, anyways?Â
Virgil didnât want to do anything that would upset Thomas further. He seemed to have done that enough already. Virgil sighed, drying out the bowls as he put them back in the cupboard. Why couldnât Thomas see that Virgil was just trying to protect him?Â
Virgil walked back into the bedroom, feeling unsure of himself but trying not to look it. He casually took a seat back at his desk, resting his hands in his pockets. âSoooooâŠâ Virgilâs sentence petered off, realizing he had nothing to say.
 Thomas gripped the nearest bar, looking at it sadly. â...There really isnât anything I can do to get you to let me go?â Thomas asked, not looking at Virgil. There was no hope in his voice because he already knew the answer. But he felt the need to ask anyway.
âAw, câmon.â Virgil winced, curling in on himself slightly. âDonât be like that. Itâs not going to be terrible, I promise.â
 Thomas hummed in a tone of disagreement and finally let go of the bar. He brought his knees to his chest and started picking at the fabric of his pants. Not going to be terrible...Thomas didnât understand why Virgil couldnât see things from his perspective. How things were already terrible.
â...Look.â Virgil tried to reason with him, hating to see Thomas so depressed. He glanced at the clock. âItâs late, okay? How about we get some sleep, and in the morning we can find a compromise.â
 A compromise? Thomas had to wonder how that would be possible, considering the two of them wanted very different things. But he nodded anyway. It wasnât like arguing with the human would do him any good. Virgil might have said he wouldnât hurt Thomas, but he was not willing to push it.
âGood.â Virgil nodded in relief. This was good. At least Thomas seemed willing to listen. Otherwise, this would be difficult. Virgil began to gather up his school supplies that had been scattered earlier, clearing off his bed. He couldnât work on homework right now even if he wanted to; instead, Virgil glanced back at the cage, wondering what he should do about bedding for Thomas.Â
âUh...one sec.â Virgil retreated to the living room, looking for the smallest blanket he could possibly find. Even folded up it would be difficult to fit through the cage door, but Virgil reasoned he could just lift the roof off temporarily.
With this in mind, Virgil returned to the bedroom. He set the blanket down on the desk, opening the cage door.
âCould you step out for a moment, Thomas?â Virgil requested.
 Thomas blinked, looking from Virgil to the blanket and then at the open cage door. Hesitantly, he stood up. Gripping his bag tight, he slowly made his way to the front, before stopping for a moment. Was this a test or some cruel trick? Would he be punished if he stepped out? Would he be punished if he didnât?
 These thoughts had him frozen at the door of the cage.
Virgil blinked. âI meant all the way.â
 Thomas winced and he stepped all the way out, moving to the side and away from Virgil. He watched curiously, wondering why Virgil had wanted him out of the cage all of a sudden.
Virgil leaned over, focusing on the latches holding the plastic roof in place. As these came undone, Virgil set the apparatus to the side. Then Virgil picked up the folded blanket, carefully shoving it into the bottom of the cage.
 Thomas tilted his head in confusion and almost wasted his time watching what was happening, before realizing that...Virgil was distracted. And Thomas was no longer confined in the cage. Now was his chance!
 Thomas started by backing up slowly, keeping his eyes on Virgil as he did so. Once he was halfway across the desk, he turned and started running towards the desk lamp. If he could just make it over there, he could climb down the cord and get into the walls. He just needed Virgil distracted for a few more seconds.--
âAaand there we go.â Virgil stood up from his handiwork. He looked over to where he had left Thomas, only to see that Thomas was no longer there. Eyes widening, Virgil spotted Thomas making a break from it further along the table. Virgil lunged forwards to grab the borrower.
 âAh!â Thomas yelled as he saw Virgilâs hand incoming. He had just barely been able to dodge the hand by turning a sharp right and left again. His running picked up, he was so close.
Virgil all but threw himself onto the table, now slamming both arms down in front of Thomas to create an impassable barrier.
 Thomas screeched to a halt but still managed to run into Virgilâs arm. He shook as he quickly backed away, but then froze when he realized this meant Virgil was right behind him. Welp, he was sure to get punished now.Â
âGeez, would you stop that?â Virgil huffed, panting slightly from the exertion. If Thomas kept running off Virgil might actually have to work out. And Virgil hated work. Not taking any chances, Virgil moved his arms closer to himself to trap Thomas in a more secure area.
 Thomas backed away as the arms came closer and he braced himself to be grabbed once more. Because Thomas was sure it was to happen any second now. He still didnât look back at Virgilâs face, scared to see any anger again.
When it seemed Thomas was done trying to run, Virgil took the opportunity to grab Thomas up. The human grunted, pushing himself off the table to stand once more.Â
âYou know, I was trying to make things a bit more comfortable for you.â Virgil said a bit irritably, lowering his hand into the cage and letting Thomas drop onto the blanket.
 When Thomas dropped onto the ground, back into the cage, he barely took notice of the blanket, or even Virgilâs words. He was still waiting for something to happen because he had tried to run. That had been so stupid of him. He should have just stayed where Virgil told him and then the human wouldnât be mad like he was now.
 Thomas curled up, still bracing himself.
Virgil grabbed the roof, clicking it back into place on the cage. He then crouched down, looking at Thomas through the still open cage door. Virgil winced internally when he saw Thomas was back to curling up on himself.Â
âWell?â Virgil asked with an expectant tone.
 Thomas flinched before slowly looking up after a few seconds of nothing happening. âW-Well, what?â Thomas asked.
âIs it comfy?â Virgil asked. âI dunno what youâre used to, but itâs the smallest blanket Iâve got. I could probably find you a smaller...something for a blanket, but weâd have to be creative with it. Not really my thing, but it could work.â
 Thomas unfurled himself and finally took notice of his surroundings. The cage floor and been entirely replaced by a blanket. A rather comfy blanket, if Thomas was being honest. Actually, it was probably the most comfortable thing he had ever sat on, other than the humanâs bed. Definitely more comfortable than his makeshift bed at home.
 â...Yeah.â He answered simply. âItâs...Itâs nice.â
âWell, good.â Virgil gave him a small smile. âGlad my efforts are at least being appreciated after the fact.â
 Thomas looked down, pressing his hand down on the blanket. It was really soft. It got Thomas thinking. âWhy are you wasting so much time on me?â Thomas found himself asking. It was better than bringing up why he wasnât receiving any punishment, though. No need to remind the human of that. And really, his question was a valid one.
â...Look.â Virgil leaned forward, crossing his arms on the edge of the desk and placing his chin atop them. âI care about you, okay, Thomas? And I know you donât see it that way. You see me as some-â Virgil struggled for a moment to think of adjectives the borrower would use. â-some big, mean human whoâs just trying to ruin your life.â
 Thomas blinked. âWell yeah...because you kind of have already.â Thomas winced. Should he have said that?
âYeah yeah.â Virgil all but waved him off. âI get it. I threw a wrench in this whole gig youâve got going. But there is no way you could have continued surviving like that forever. I mean, look at you. Youâre a mess.âÂ
 Thomas couldnât help but look down at himself. He didnât see anything wrong with how he was, he had always been like this after all. But, he had to admit, compared to a human he did look kind of bad. âI can survive like that just fine,â Thomas spoke, feeling brave enough to direct a small glare at the human. âIâve been doing it since I was 12 and when I was too young, my parents were doing it.â
âWhy are you all so obsessed with this life of scraps and stealth and secrecy?â Virgil gave a small exasperated laugh. âI mean yeah humans suck, but some humans suck less.â Virgil thought fondly of his own friends. âIf youâre gonna live off of taking humanâs things anyways, why havenât you ever tried to go straight to the source? Partner with a human and cut out the middle man.â
 Thomas looked at Virgil incredulously. âSeriously?â He waved around him at the cage he was being held in. âWe were scared of this exact thing happening. Being trapped, being killed! And there are no ways to judge which humans might help us without either of those two things happening because humans always act differently towards us than with other humans becauseâŠâ A few tears filled Thomasâ eyes and he looked down. âBecause weâre smaller and apparently that makes us less equal.â
âWoah woah woah.â Virgil frowned, once again feeling unsure in the face of emotions. âThat is not true. Just because youâre like- what a few inches tall?- doesnât mean that youâre not a person too.â A person youâve trapped in a hamster cage. Virgil winced.Â
âI know Iâm not being the best ambassador for humanity with this thing.â Virgil gave a glare at one of the cage walls. âAnd you know what? Okay, maybe youâre right. Locking a tiny person up is kind of... unfair. But I only brought it out because you keep trying to run off.â
 âAnd thereâs a reason I keep trying to run. See, you wouldnât keep another human locked up, would you?â Thomas actually thought he was getting somewhere. Maybe, if they kept talking and things continued to go in this direction, maybe this could even end in Virgil letting him go.
âWell, thatâs where things are different.â Virgil tried again to explain his side of things. âYouâre not another human. And thatâs perfectly fine, youâre still a person of course, but youâre not acting like a member of society or whatever. I would help another human reform, turn their life around, and I want to do the same to help you. Except the difference is, a human would accept the assistance instead of trying to get away constantly.â
 Thomasâ shoulders slumped. So much for being let go. âWhy wonât you just listen to me?â He was sure Virgil would listen to another human, at least more than he was listening to him.
âIâm trying to, Thomas.â Virgil insisted. âThatâs why I was talking about compromising. I mean, I get it, youâre already pissed at me for keeping you here. But I want to at least make you less pissed at me by figuring out what you think is best. Apart from the whole leaving thing. Like the cage, I get it, it sucks. We can find something better together tomorrow.â
 âSo...you just plan on me staying with you...forever?â Surely Virgil wouldnât deal with Thomas for that long. Which meant, eventually, either Virgil would let him go...orâŠ
 Thomas shook his head, not wanting to think about it.
âUh, foreverâs a long time.â Virgil hadnât actually given it much thought. He was mostly trying to take this one mistake at a time. âI dunno whatâll happen to us down the road, heck I donât even know my major.â The further Virgil thought about it, the more Virgil was unsure. What would Virgil do with Thomas over break, especially if Thomas was still adamant about leaving? Virgil winced at the thought of Thomas still being that torn up about this in months.
âHow about we aim for the semester?â Virgil suggested. âAnd then weâll go from there.â
 Thomas looked up with a sad frown. â...I donât really have a choice, do I?â He felt like curling in on himself again.
âWell, I want you to have some choice in it.â Virgil pressed on, leaning forwards slightly. He was almost desperate to keep Thomas from shutting him out again. âI donât want you to sulk through this semester all depressed. Come on, really, whatâs a reasonable amount of time for you to stick around here? From a borrower perspective.â
 Thomas forced himself not to wince as Virgil used the term for his kind again. He thought for a moment, he had to think of something to say. â...A week.â Even that seemed too long by his standards, but it was better than the entire semester. Which Thomas knew to be months long. And he figured Virgil wouldnât take one day as an answer.
âA week.â Virgil thought about it. He could work with a week. And certainly, if it made Thomas happier, Virgil was more than willing to agree.
âAlright, a week it is.â Virgil gave a small nod, slowly sticking out his index finger towards Thomas in lieu of a handshake.
 Thomas flinched back as Virgilâs hand came towards him, scared to be grabbed again. But when he saw that Virgil was simply holding his finger out for a handshake, Thomas relaxed a bit. After some hesitation, Thomas grabbed Virgilâs finger and shook it.Â
 While it still might not be ideal and might not end how he wanted it to, it was still his best bet at freedom. So he would just have to go along with it for now and keep an eye out on any and all escape opportunities.Â
Virgil looked down, feeling the slight movement of his own finger as the borrower shook it. Thatâs so weird. Trying not to make it even weirder by lingering, Virgil pulled his hand back out of the cage.Â
âWell, now that thatâs settled, I think itâs best we actually get to bed,â Virgil suggested.
 Thomas nodded, yawning as if on cue. He was exhausted. But his mind was still racing with everything that had happened. Very weird state to be in. He hoped he would at least be able to get a little bit of sleep tonight. He had a feeling he would need it for tomorrow.
Virgil snorted slightly at the tiny yawn. âGânight, Thomas.â Virgil closed the cage door, feeling slightly guilty about it as he climbed into his own bed and turned off the light.
 Thomas watched the cage door close with sad eyes but knew there was nothing he could do about it. â...Goodnight.â He called back, after a moment of hesitation. He took off his bag and laid it down off to the side, before laying down himself. He curled up onto the blanket and closed his eyes.
Virgil wasnât sure. He looked around the room, trying to figure out what one was supposed to do when they found a tiny thief spying on their room. Virgilâs eyes landed on his open closet door, and suddenly he got an idea.Â
He stood up, walking over and grabbing the cardboard box to contain Thomas temporarily. âWait here,â Virgil instructed, placing it where it could still be in view as he dug through the closet.
 âHuh?â Thomas blinked as he was suddenly deposited inside the cardboard box. âW-Wait!â What was happening? What was Virgil doing?
Virgil ignored Thomasâ cries, focusing on the task at hand. Earlier, when Thomas had been struggling around in Virgilâs hand, it had felt similar to when Virgil would hold his pet hamster, Sacajawea. She had passed away last semester, but Virgil had kept all the supplies just in case he ever decided to get another. Now, at last, he would get some use out of it.Â
âHere we are,â Virgil said triumphantly, pulling out the familiar plastic cage. He cleared a spot on his desk for it before returning to grab Thomas out of the box.
 Thomas couldnât help but struggle again as he grabbed once more. Thomasâ eyes scanned the room, wondering what Virgil meant, when he saw something on the desk that hadnât been there before. âW-Wait! No!â Thomasâ struggling got more desperate.
âOh yeah.â Virgil gave an evil grin, opening up the cage door one-handed with practiced ease and tossing Thomas inside.
 Thomas yelped and groaned as he found himself face down on the cage floor. But he quickly stood up, looking at Virgil. âVirgil, please.â
Virgil simply closed the door, looking a bit smug about how conveniently this was working out.
 âVirgil!â This wasnât good. He ran to the door, putting his hands on the bars and trying to open it. But it was indeed locked. âYou canât just keep me here!â
âWhy not?â Virgil shrugged. âYou admitted to being a thief and a stalker. Some jail time seems more than appropriate.â
 Thomas deflated. âI-I did it to survive.â Thomas tried weakly.
âYeah, but that doesnât mean itâs right.â Virgil pointed out, sitting down at his desk chair. âYou couldâve asked for help when you fell on hard times. I mean, you probably donât eat much anyways. I would have helped you out.â
 Thomas blinked. âWe...We canât just ask humans for help! That would be crazy.â Thomas shook his head, backing away from the door and Virgil. âItâs the whole reason why borrowers are so secretive! If a human sees us or catches us, weâre done for! You may not be one of the humans who wants to kill me, butâŠâ Thomas motioned around him at the cage. âYou...you did trap me in here.â
âYeah, because you stole from me first.â Virgil reminded him, crossing his arms. He narrowed his eyes. âWhat exactly did you take?â
 Thomas pursed his lips. Well, he was already in this deep, why not go deeper? âI just took things like paper clips, bits of tinfoil, crumbs left out, maybe a cracker or chip or two...t-things you wouldnât miss if they were gone. Thatâs all.â
Well, Thomas was right about one thing. Virgil certainly didnât miss them. He hadnât noticed anything going missing around the house.
âYou knowâŠâ Virgil leaned forward, folding his hands under his chin as his arms rested on his knees. â...itâs interesting how you call yourself a âborrowerâ. Guess we can add liar to your list of crimes too, huh?â
 Thomas took a step back. âW-What? Iâm not lying.â Also, he had just realized he had revealed the name of his kind, which was also a problem, but not the biggest one right now.
âOh really?â Virgil raised an eyebrow. âSo youâre just âborrowingâ all that stuff? When were you planning on putting it back, huh?â
 Thomas winced. âI didnât come up with that name! Itâs just-IâŠâ Thomas took a deep breath. Honestly, whoever had come up with their name either didnât understand the term borrowing or had a sense of humor. In either case, it wasnât helping him out now.Â
 âLook. Iâll leave. Iâll find somewhere else to live, somewhere where I canât spy or take things from you. Just please let me go and youâll never have to deal with me again.â Thomas proposed, heart pounding with nerves and hope.
Virgil certainly liked the sound of that. But, Thomas was also kind of growing on him. Now that he knew Thomas wasnât able to do any of those personally invasive things, Thomas just looked kind of...sad. Helpless. Alone.
âNah.â Virgil shook his head, keeping up his villainous act. âI donât think youâve really learned your lesson yet, Thomas.â
 Thomas shook at those words, his hope gone. He felt numb. All of this could have been avoided if he hadnât made such a stupid mistake. Now he was trapped, with a human that would likely be punishing him for things he had no choice but to do.
 He found himself falling to the floor, curling up as he hugged his knees.Â
Virgil froze, watching Thomas curl up on himself. Whoops. Maybe he went a little too far again.
âUh...Thomas?â Virgil knocked on the bars to get the borrowerâs attention.
 Thomas tensed, but kept his head down and braced himself. He didnât want to see it coming, whatever Virgil was going to do.
âThomas.â Virgil snapped his fingers in front of the cage. âCâmon, snap out of it. Iâm not gonna hurt you, remember?â
 The snap of Virgilâs fingers caused him to jump and made him look up. âYou said you wouldnât kill me...you never said anything about not hurting me.âÂ
âUgh, fine.â Virgil rolled his eyes, only slightly annoyed. âIâm not going to hurt you. Okay? Are we cool now?â
 Thomas frowned. â...Will you let me go?â
âNo,â Virgil answered coolly.
 Thomas winced at how quickly Virgil had answered. âWhy? Wouldnât it be better for me to leave the building and then you never have to deal with me again?âÂ
âLook, Thomas.â Virgil sighed. âWould that be convenient? Sure. But then youâre just gonna go rob some other unsuspecting stranger.â
 Thomas himself was starting to get frustrated with this. âBecause thatâs how I survive. Would you rather I die? Because thatâs what's gonna happen if I donât do that or if I even try to ask a human for help.âÂ
âNo, itâs not!â Virgil insisted. âBecause Iâm gonna help you.â
 Thomas froze. âWait, what?â
âYou seem very determined to either commit crimes or die.â Virgil pointed out. âAnd I donât want you doing either, to be honest. So Iâll just help you myself. You just ask me for something and Iâll get it.â
 â...But I donât want that!â Thomas cried, even if the prospect of having everything he needed right then and there was amazing. He never wanted it like this. âI donât want to be here! I donât want to be in this cage!â Why couldnât Virgil understand that?
âThatâs temporary.â Virgil waved his concerns off. âWithout it, youâd just go running off on me. Donât even try to deny it.â
 âI wonât! But put yourself in my shoes. Wouldnât you try to run away if the giant who captured you trapped you inside a cage? And made you think they were going to kill you, even for a second? Not a great first impression.â
âOkay!â Virgil put his hands up in defense. âI didnât make a great first impression. I seldom do. But to be fair, you didnât do so great yourself. You fell on me while I was studying because you were spying on me to decide when to steal my stuff. Put yourself in my shoes for a moment.â
 Thomas grit his teeth and turned away. He would try to argue, but it didnât seem like Virgil was really listening. Besides, Thomas could...maybe see his point a little, but his situation was still worse.
â...yeah, thatâs what I thought.â Virgil took Thomasâ silence as agreement. âLook, letâs just...both agree that weâve screwed up in the past, and continue forwards on a clean slate.â
 Thomas glared up at Virgil. âNot sure how we can do that when youâve already messed up my whole life.â The borrower murmured, starting to curl in on himself again.
âNow youâre being more dramatic than Roman.â Virgil rolled his eyes. âI didnât mess up your life, okay? Iâm fixing it.â Now be grateful. Virgil kept that last bit to himself.
 Thomas continued to look down and pick at his clothes. Virgil would just continue to ignore him if he tried to speak again.
 And Thomas was scared that if he tried to speak again it would come out more as sobs than actual words.