Archive of Our Own

Melody felt that her life was cursed. Things had always been hard and without Caprice it would be worse. They managed with the humans they were with now, but they weren’t easy to deal with. Loud, noisy, and they kept things too clean. At least it was possible to get the supplies they needed when it mattered. She wanted things to be easier. She wanted to be less of a burden.

Caprice was great at borrowing. Climbing, running, everything a borrower needed to survive. She got horrible coughs when there was dust. It was hard for her to climb and run around. The thing that made her a decent borrower was her observation skills. She could find what the humans would never miss. Direct Caprice to the perfect spot to borrow from. Guide them to things that would make their lives a bit easier.

Unfortunately that wasn’t enough for most of the borrowers they met after they lost their parents. She was a problem. A liability. If she left, Caprice could stay. There were a few times she tried to leave. Caprice always came after her. He was a good brother.

That was why she was out where the humans could find her. She had something to get for him. It wouldn’t be hard. The humans were out and would be gone for a while. She could do this. Melody traveled carefully. Never leaving the shadows just in case. The only good thing about these clean humans, the dust wasn’t around to make her sick.

Melody smiled when she found it. She’d been watching for weeks to see if the humans looked. Neither of them cared. It would be hard to carry back, but she knew Caprice wanted this. He wanted matches and this was a whole ton of them. Melody lifted the thing that held them together and tied it to her back. The trip was worth it.

Unfortunately the curse she knew she had decided to rear its ugly head. The humans were back early. Melody ran with all her strength to a spot the humans wouldn’t be able to find her. She focused on their steps, tuning out the loud voices as they talked. Something about forgetting some stupid human item. She just needed them to leave. Her breathing was rapid as she tried to catch her breath from her dash.

The steps landed near her. She barely held in her yelp. She slid further back. One of the massive faces darkened her hiding place. Their breath smelled awful as it washed over her. She held her breath to keep from coughing. Thankfully the human stood up. The loud voices continued, steps walking away. A jingling followed by a deafening “Found them!” saved her.

The humans left, the click she’d always listened for before followed. She hadn’t heard it earlier, she should have listened. Melody rushed home, stopping to catch her breath only when she absolutely had to. One of the humans in the other houses had this thing too, they called it asthma or something. She hated it, a borrower couldn’t survive like this.

As soon as she reached the wall sat down to try and calm herself. Caprice wouldn’t know this happened, he was asleep so it was fine. Except that was another way the curse of her life followed, he had woken up. He woke up and was running towards her. Melody undid the knot and tried to push the matches out of sight. She wasn’t fast enough.

“Mel, what were you doing out there?!” Caprice shouted at her. She pulled the matches forward to try and show him.

“I was getting your birthday present…” she mumbled. They had this argument too often lately. She had to stay in the walls. Refill their water and anything else safely out of sight.

“I don’t need a present! I need you safe. What even are these!?”

“They’re matches. We were talking about how we could use-”

“We don’t need them!” Caprice grabbed the heavy package and shoved it out of the wall. Their entrance was hidden well enough and they both knew a stray item wouldn’t make the humans curious. “Those aren’t worth risking your life! You know what starts tonight, the least you could do is be careful knowing that.”

“They start for both of us. You don’t have to treat me like a child, Caprice. I was careful, I stayed hidden. I can borrow if I need to. You don’t get to decide if I ever leave the walls!”

Melody stood up and walked away from her brother. She almost never made mistakes the times she left the walls. He had no reason to treat her like this. She stormed straight into their home and got back to work on one of the blankets she’d been making. The weather would get cold soon so they’d need it.

A long time later Caprice walked into their small home. He had a few things they’d been needing. Rubber bands, paper clips, and needles. Helpful, but she was still mad. Their parents used to push her to leave the safety of the walls and she did then. She knew how to survive, she was only in trouble if she had to run. Which was why she couldn’t do a lot on her own…

“Mel…” Caprice said. She shot him a glare, waiting for him to continue. “Can’t we just enjoy our birthday? I mean, everything changes for us tonight.”

“Nothing has to change after tonight,” she grumbled as she turned back to her work. It was true. So what if they were both starting their dreams. Nothing promised anyone would be in them. Nothing promised that the first one they met would work. Nothing promised there was anyone for her…

“Everything is gonna change! Some random person is gonna be in our dreams and-and… and nevermind…” Melody looked up at Caprice, he’d hugged himself and turned away.

“No… what is it Cap? What do you think is gonna happen?” She put the blanket down and walked over to him, grabbing one of his hands.

“Mel… after these stupid dreams start you’re gonna leave… I just don’t want to lose you before I have to. It’s always been us against the world.”

Melody pulled Caprice into a tight hug. “Caprice you idiot. It doesn’t matter who shows up in my dream tonight. As far as I’m concerned we’re a package deal… Besides, both of us get dreams tonight, maybe you’ll be the one who-”

“That would never happen. I’m not going anywhere without you. Especially not after how some of those borrowers acted around us. I’m not making you stick with me either though.”

“Then I guess it’s good we’re both stubborn enough to stick together.”

Caprice finally wrapped his own arms around her. Their hug lasted for a few seconds before he pulled away to store what he’d taken. Melody went back to work, the rest of their birthday passed in a calm silence. That night she pulled out something she got without Caprice finding out. A bit of cookies, that at least made him smile. 

Melody stayed bothered by what he said. Their lives would change even if she pretended they wouldn’t. Things couldn’t stay simple, others would be involved. She meant what she said at least. In her mind the two have always been a package deal. If someone expects her to go make a dangerous trek to meet them she wouldn’t be arriving alone.

Eventually they had to sleep. She was nervous. This would open up doors for them both. A chance where he wasn’t the only one collecting supplies and she could help others get more impressive things. First they had to enter the dream that would lead them to someone. A dream that would be the first time they couldn’t rely on each other for help…

“Good night Mel,” Caprice whispered. Melody smiled, it was clear in his voice how nervous he was too.

“Good night Cap,” she said. “Remember, nothing has to change.”

“Right…”

Melody sat in the dark for a while. Just listening to the silence and Caprice’s breathing. She couldn’t keep her eyes closed. If she wanted it, she’d fall asleep. It was supposed to be easier for her to sleep once the dreams started. It could be anyone, it could be someone she already met. She was scared. Eventually it got hard to keep her mind going and her eyes open. Slowly, but surely Melody fell asleep and into her first dream.

Waking up she was alone, but out in the open. Not just in the open on something she’d only seen once. A big black thing that had white bars she could jump on. When she did they made a sound she loved. This was what she found the first time they had to move. Caprice was with her, inside the part of the black thing that opened. He stole some of the strings inside, she never knew what he wanted them for.

Without thinking she jumped from where she woke up onto one of the white bars. The beautiful noise rang out and she laughed. That joy was circumvented by fear, a human could come just like back then. Catch her and make things worse. Leave Caprice scrambling to find a way to free her. She was lucky they just slammed a cup over her and never grabbed her.

Melody spun around again and again. The place wasn’t the house she expected. The walls were the wrong shade of white. All the pictures were things she wished she could live through again. The time Caprice stole some tiny music player and they used it every time the humans went out. Another time when they moved and found a ladybug that followed them for days. When they collected flowers for their home and so many more. 

“Wow…” she murmured. If this was what these dreams would be like she wanted to have them forever. A place she could enjoy herself. Melody started to move across the bars. Humming along as they grew easy enough to walk across while they made the noises.

“Hey!” A man’s shout made her stop. She turned toward the voice, he was above her. He probably came from the place Caprice had stolen the strings. His hair was a strange blue that reminded her of water. His eyes were a brilliantly deep shade she could watch for hours. His skin was a beige color that somehow made her think of outside. 

Melody tilted her head, something about him was off. She didn’t want to answer. She started to back away along the white bars. The man’s eyes widened, but she didn’t stop. After all this time she knew to trust this feeling. He wasn’t a normal borrower, there was something off about him. Something she couldn’t trust.

“Wait!” his voice managed to make her freeze. “Do you know what’s going on?”

“What do you mean?” Melody said. She had to find a way to get down at least. 

“I mean I just woke up inside a piano and that alone is weird. I figured you probably know what’s going on.”

“Piano… so that’s what this is…” At least she finally knew what to call this thing. “It’s the dream. We’re supposed to be a perfect match.”

“Perfect match? Like soul mates?” The smile on his face made her nervous. She wasn’t the type borrowers tended to like if her past meant anything. “I guess I’m lucky if that’s true. Either this is real and someone beautiful is my soulmate or I have someone to dream about from now on.”

Melody started to back away again. He jumped up a bit more. She couldn’t figure out what was wrong yet. Just looking at him there was something she feared.  He pulled himself up and over the black wall he was leaning on. When he stood on the other side she understood. He was at least twice her height. She couldn’t imagine how he’d stay hidden when he was that big.

“I’m Kyrie, what’s your name?” he asked. 

Melody shook her head. This was insane, the tallest she’s met was maybe a head or two taller than her. This man wasn’t normal. She wasn’t sure he noticed how small she’d be next to him yet. He tilted his head before sitting to hang his legs off the ledge above them. Melody took more steps away, but he landed on the piano bars. They made a deep noise she hadn’t heard before.

Kyrie stood up from his fall and towered. Somehow this was more terrifying than a human. An insanely tall borrower, one who might start looking for her. Thankfully he wasn’t watching her. His focus was on the bar he stood on. He bounced making the deep noise again. Then he shifted towards the black bar that was next to him. She didn’t know what they did. She always assumed it was how the humans would put that cover down that hid the white bars.

“This is really cool. Giant piano keys,” he said.

“G-giant?” she mumbled. He looked at her again. While their eyes were locked he put a single foot on the black bar, pressing down it made a strange noise. Just like the white bars or rather keys. Why were they keys? She wanted to ask, but she had an idea worming into her skull about what this man was.

“Yeah, it’s a giant piano. This whole place is huge. It’s kind of cool. I’m used to ducking under door frames in some older houses. Being this small seems fun.”

“...you’re a human?”

“Yes?” He took a step towards her and Melody took a few away. “Is something wrong?”

“S-stay away from me!”

Melody turned and took off running. The noise of the keys felt cruel. She could hear the sound of Kyrie running after her, crossing more ground than she did with each stride. A human version of this man would be even worse. It was painful to hear the way the sounds almost complemented each other as they both ran. Even in a dream she couldn’t escape the curse of her life. It wasn’t long before it became a struggle to suck in a breath. At the same time a hand the size of her head grabbed one of her arms.

“Wait!” Kyrie was panting too. It was even worse for her up close to see this man. Twice her height and a human height when awake. The universe honestly must have cursed her. “I’m sorry if I scared you. I-I don’t know what’s going on. Could we try again?”

“Go away!” Melody screamed trying to pull her arm free. The gigantic hand had her entire forearm in its grip. “You shouldn’t be here! The universe is playing some sick joke sending a human!”

“Does that mean you aren’t human? What are you?”

“I won’t tell you!”

“Is there a reason?”

“Humans can’t know about u-me. I won’t tell you anything!” She nearly told him too much. It was bad enough she told him where they were. It really had to be a sick joke.

“Oh… Well maybe I can prove you can trust me and then you’ll tell me?”

“What do you mean?”

“Before you seemed happy to know we were on a piano. Why don’t I just tell you things you want to know? Like how the piano keys work or anything else. If I don’t know it I can find out before we talk next. I mean I guess I’m assuming we’ll see each other again. I could be wrong, but I’d like to see you again. I mean…”

Kyrie’s words trailed off, but Melody was a bit tempted. She tugged on her arm again and this time he let go. He even backed up to the black key and sat down. It almost made her smile the way he made the sound keep going. She was still struggling to catch her breath so she focused on that first. It would be better not to risk what he said. Trusting a human would get her killed, but maybe one time it wouldn’t hurt. Tomorrow she’d be alone after the universe realized a cruel joke wouldn’t beat her.

“...what’s the noise called that the key things make?” Melody asked. Kyrie brightened and she almost felt happy herself. She couldn’t have that.

“It’s music. Have you ever heard a song played on one before?”

“No… The humans who owned the one I saw never played it. What… How would you play it?”

“I’m not that great, but I know some basics… Can I show you?”

Melody nodded. Kyrie shot up to his terrifying height and came closer. She wasn’t expecting that, but all he did was hold out his hand. For a long tense moment she considered running again, but her curiosity won. A curiosity that got her in trouble far too often. She put her hand in his and watched as his fingers enveloped her hand. At his real height it would be her entirely.

“Follow me,” he smiled.

For the night he took her across the keys. Together it sounded amazing. Something she never could have imagined on her own. If this was basic she wanted to know everything. At one point it felt more like a strange dance. She was able to forget what he was, laughing when he lifted her up. It didn’t seem like he should be able to with her weight. Then again he was actually a human.

When they stopped she was close to him. He stared down at her with a warm smile and she couldn’t stop her own. It was fun to act like this with someone who wanted to know her. When he jumped the spell was broken, she remembered what he really was. Thankfully he took his own steps away leaving her on her own. Somehow she felt cold when he let go of her hand.

“I guess I got too into it. I never managed to play like that when my fingers could hit the keys on their own. Maybe you’re good luck,” he winked at her.

“It would be a human who finds luck in a curse,” she whispered to herself. A wry smile replaced the warmth she was feeling.

“I wouldn’t say you're a curse. Just some strange luck finding me tonight. I won’t tell anyone, no one’s going to know. Can I ask just one thing?”

She knew better than to answer anything and yet… “What do you want to know?”

“Are you this small when you’re awake?”

Melody closed her eyes. She shouldn’t answer. He’d look for people like her if he knew. Another borrower could be put in danger. It was a foolish idea to say anything about her life. Yet she still wound up opening her eyes and staring up at his stupidly kind face. The innocent curiosity and an asinine belief that he really wouldn’t tell anyone. She nodded, begging to wake up right after.

For once her luck was in her favor. The wish to wake up happened. The darkness of the inside of a person’s wall was high above her. The night felt magical while they danced on the piano keys. If only that was something they could do in reality. Dance to a music that existed only because of each other. It wasn’t possible. The dream was over and she had to warn Caprice.

Quietly, she pushed herself up. All her worries disappeared when she met her brother’s eyes filled with tears. She scrambled out of her fabric bed and crawled over to him, holding him in a tight hug. She just had a stupid human to deal with, Caprice had something that made him cry. That was more important.

“Cap, Cap, what happened?” she mumbled. “Whoever it was, you won’t have to see them again. We’ll figure it out.”

He reached a hand up to grab her arm, it felt weird to have someone normal sized so close. “No… Mel I-I didn’t have a dream. I just slept like normal.”

“What? Even if there’s no one yet your world should have-”

“Mel… I’m happy. I was so scared. I didn’t… I’ve never felt anything like you did. When we were kids and you’d watch the shows with the humans because someone caught your interest. I didn’t understand and I was so scared I would meet someone in this stupid dream who wanted me to be someone else. To want kids, be… be interested in them like mom and dad were to each other. Just… to be more like you and now… I don’t have them. There’s nothing and that’s honestly what I want. No one to push me to be anything other than myself.”

“That’s what you want?” She could sort of understand. The few times there were other borrowers in their lives she didn’t understand some of what they talked about. A feeling the others had that she didn’t.

“...yes… I… Melody, do you hate me?”

“What? Why would I-”

“Mom and dad always talked about how we had to have kids. There had to be another generation and we’d bring them into this world… It was fine if they called me dad, but we need to keep borrowers alive. Aren’t you mad I won’t do that? That there’s no chance that someone will convince me to-”

“Caprice. You are my brother. I don’t care what happens as long as you’re happy. If you don’t want the dreams then I’m just as happy as you are that they didn’t happen. If you want them then we’ll figure out why they aren’t there.” She pulled away to make sure their eyes met. “Besides, no one is going to make my brother do something he hates or would make him hate his own body. No kids allowed unless you’re ok with it. No duty to fulfill either.”

“But mom and dad-”

“Mom and dad aren’t here anymore. It’s us and as far as I’m concerned that duty they always talked about was crap. We’re alive, that’s the only duty there is to fulfill. Maybe we can add staying together to that.”

Caprice slid out of her grip to wrap her in his own hug. His head buried in her shoulder as he kept crying. Melody hugged him, rubbing his back. She wished he had told her these worries. This whole dream thing was supposed to make people happy. The person met in them should love who you are… That almost seemed like what she got.

Eventually Caprice pulled away from her. He wiped at his eyes for a bit too. She wanted things to stay the same. All she had to do for that to happen was to stay out of her dream. She could do it.

“What about you?” he said, clearing his throat a bit too. “You had the dream right? Was anyone there? How was it?”

“Oh!” Melody considered telling him. That she met a human who was twice her size in the dream. It was easy to picture the panic it would cause. So she smiled with a tilt to her head. “No one was there. Guess I’m just waiting for now. Just shows I was right. Nothing has to change.”

Caprice laughed, Melody tried to join him. Nothing had to change. It didn’t matter that now she knew what a piano was. That she wanted to hear the music again. That she knew the bars were called keys. She never had to go out so it would be fine. She’d avoid sleeping and avoid Kyrie when she did. Everything would be fine.

That day they both stayed in. Caprice sat with her and helped her work on the blanket they needed. Sometimes just giving her a hug again. She didn’t mind, the feeling was comforting to her and if it helped him that was even better. A simple day and when night fell Caprice looked happy. Relieved to sleep without the terror of dreams hanging over him.

Melody waited for him to fall asleep long before she made her way to her own bed. Actually she waited hours after Caprice was asleep, reluctant to meet Kyrie again. Their lives couldn’t change. She’d make sure of it. After all this time it was the two of them against the world. A human that gave her one night of fun wouldn’t change that. Her job was to keep them ready for the weather and to watch the ones they lived with. She was good at that job.

Eventually her eyes grew heavy and she couldn’t fight off sleep anymore. She stumbled over to her bed and got comfortable before falling asleep. This time she woke up on the ground, no sign of the human. It would be nice if he never showed up again. He’d promised to tell her more things if she asked, but that didn’t need to happen.

“Hey!”

Kyrie’s shout made her heart race. She was tempted to run again, but he’d catch her. Even in a dream she couldn’t run and he was twice the size of a normal borrower. That part would never get out of her mind. When she finally turned to face him he was actually on the other side of glass. It was weird.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“I woke up here this time, looks like I can’t come closer even with permission,” his pout was cute. Melody chastised herself, those thoughts had to stop. Kyrie walked behind the glass to stand across from her. He sat down, meeting her eyes. “So, you’re really this small? What’s it like?”

“I won’t tell you anything more.”

“Oh… you still don’t trust me then?”

“I bet you started looking for me. All around your human home for some signs of me or if there’s anyone else like me near you.”

“No.. I wanted to, but if it was you then you’d be more scared right?”

“How can I believe you?”

“Well… I don’t know, but I really want to talk more about anything. Just what you want to say is enough. I would like your name if that’s ok…”

“What does my name do for you?”

“It tells me the name of the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

“...what do those strings do in the piano?”

A big grin appeared on his face. “I got lucky. I looked into pianos more. I had a feeling you’d ask me about them.”

Melody walked forward and sat across from Kyrie. The glass almost seemed to get thicker once she sat down. He started telling her all about how hammers fell on the strings to make the music. It made no sense to her, but she loved the idea. Strings make the sounds, she’d never seen that on anything besides something called a guitar. The guilt eating at her made it hard to enjoy the knowledge. 

“Stop,” she interrupted him. He was talking about how there were electric ones. “I can’t do this. You’re a human and I’m not…”

“Why would that matter?” he asked. He stood, putting his hands on the glass.

“I know you want to know about me, why not try imagining my life. Living around monsters dozens of times your size. Ones that stomp around and would kill you for just trying to survive. If you didn’t meet me here would you think twice before killing me?”

“Of course I would! Or wouldn’t… Well I wouldn’t kill you! That’s what I mean. Just because your small is no reason-”

“I bet you kill spiders without a second thought.” The glass in front of her shifted to those pictures from the night before. Memories she could never share with a human. “You’d casually kill a ladybug. Crush flowers underfoot because you didn’t care to think about it. If you found someone like me who took something you’d take it back and kill us without a second thought.”

“I-”

“Tell me I’m wrong!” With her shout the glass between them cracked. The image she saw of Kyrie distorted until he towered as high as a human. So high it might have been the real him. She stumbled away terrified of what this image meant.

“I wouldn’t hurt someone like you…” The distorted version of Kyrie looked down at her with what almost seemed like pity. “I… How can I prove I wouldn’t hurt you? We had fun together didn’t we? Even if I found you by accident, without this dream I wouldn’t hurt you. Can’t I prove it to you?”

“H-How?” The Kyrie in the glass kneeled. She was so scared of what this meant. If maybe on the other side he was huge. That the mercy of these dreams wore off in her anger.

“Just doing this, let me talk to you. Maybe once you know me you’ll trust me?”

“If I don’t want to?”

“I don’t really know how to not be here, but I can try not to bother you I guess.”

Melody never got to answer. She was woken up by Caprice shaking her. He said something she barely heard and ran off. There was a part of her that was almost sad that Kyrie wasn’t there. That she didn’t get to respond. It didn’t matter, she’d fight off sleep to avoid things like that. Caprice came back looking at her strangely.

“Are you coming? They’re opening the boxes already!” he said. Melody climbed out of bed and rushed up to him. This was her life, she didn’t get to daydream about a human who wouldn’t stand by his word. “What do you think they got? It was a lot more than normal.”

“Hopefully it’s something we can make use of,” she smiled.

They arrived at the perch where she’d watch. Caprice ran off to get other things while the humans were busy. It was easy to keep an eye on the humans from here. Boxes she’d never seen before were spread out all around them. It was hard to tell quite what it was. The time it took felt long. After only a few minutes she was yawning. How long had she been asleep?

Slowly her blinks started to grow longer. She saw them take out metal at one point. It wasn’t clear yet. Another set of even longer blinks. She was so tired. More metal and some plastic. Nothing put together. Her eyes shut again and the next thing she knew the metal was gone. They were cleaning up. She hadn’t slept, at least not enough to dream. It was strange. She never had so much trouble being awake before.

They cleaned up the boxes slowly. It only just occurred to her how quiet they were. It wasn't how these humans usually acted. She had to pay more attention. Notice what they were hiding. It could be life or death for her and Caprice. It could mean they had to move.

At the very least she found a number of scraps thrown all over the room. One of the weird tools they use for putting things together too. It fell under the table she’d gotten the matches from… She almost forgot about the matches. They should get them, fire was useful. Especially with the cold weather coming in no time. These humans didn’t keep the house warm enough last winter.

Once the boxes were gone she made her way home. Nothing useful left behind and whatever they put together was gone already. It would be fine. Metal with these humans usually meant some new thing on the wall. It was simple enough and unimportant. Making her way home she yawned even more. Maybe something was wrong in those dreams. Maybe she just got no rest because of her guilt.

When she walked in Caprice hadn’t gotten back yet. She got back to work on the blanket. It was almost done, just a few more layers. As she sat down to work her eyelids grew heavy again. It was like something was pulling her into sleep. She couldn’t let that happen. She needed more ways to stay awake.

One blink and she was back in the dream. The glass was gone and she was on a table. She thought maybe this would be the first time she was alone. Instead horribly heavy steps rocked through the table. As she looked around she realized this was the kitchen of a human house. One where she’d been terrified before.

Shadowy forms walked into the room. Ones she faintly recognized. It made her freeze. She had to get away before they found her. The people would hurt her. A hand grabbed her arm and dragged her away. In the shadow of a bowl she was held tightly to the human currently only twice her size. Kyrie’s hand on the back of her head was huge, but also comforting.

“Shh,” he whispered. “I’ll figure a way out. I don’t know how these dreams work, but I won’t let even dream humans see you if I can stop it.”

Melody stayed silent as the steps of the humans in the dream reached them. Empty noises of their voices, it was terrifying. Kyrie holding her made it a lot easier to face. It was weird he was even here though. Time had passed in reality. Eventually the loud voices and horrible steps wandered away. Somewhere far from the two of them. As soon as he let her go she fell to her knees.

“Are you ok?” he whispered. She nodded, he joined her on the ground. “You deal with that all the time…”

“I’m usually not this close,” she said. “I stay more hidden, away from where they can find me… What are you doing here?”

“I thought I could try to learn more if I was here. Try to see things how you do… Especially after I scared you.”

“Who said you scared me?” Melody looked away. She didn’t like that it wasn't entirely a lie. It scared her more that she was curious about being near him. She wondered how it would feel if he held her. That she almost wanted to trust him.

“I thought I did with my questions. You were upset and just left.” The bright grin she shouldn’t like wound up on his face. “I’m glad that I didn’t scare you though.”

“I shouldn’t be here…”

“Wait! Before you tell me how wrong this is again, please give me a chance. I… I really won’t hurt you or look for you or anyone like you. I just want to know you.”

“...My name is Melody.”

After that she forced herself to wake up. The pull of a dream with someone so desperate to learn about her was hard to ignore. She still succeeded, jumping up from how she’d hunched forward for the small time she was there. Caprice walked in just as she got back to work, a lot hung on his shoulder. He looked upset though.

“Cap, what’s wrong?” she asked.

“The matches are gone, guess it’s what I deserve for getting so angry,” he sighed.

“I’m sure they’ll lose something else worth it in no time. Maybe I’ll sneak out to get it again.”

“Don’t you dare. Anyway, what was in the boxes?”

“Oh! Uh… nothing useful or to worry about. Nothing that looked good for us to use either.”

“Alright.”

Melody settled back into her work, Caprice helped again. A normal day where she kept feeling that pull on and off to go back to sleep. Now at least she had an idea it was because of Kyrie. Because he was there and trying to understand her. It was weird, why would a human want that? It was the thought that haunted her for an entire day and through most of the night. Eventually the siren’s song of sleep won.

This time she was back on the piano. All alone she wandered the keys playing the song Kyrie showed her to the best of her ability. It was kind of fun, if only she could try it in reality. Learn more about the strings and hammers. All the things humans knew. When she stopped, soft claps came from far away. She followed the sound, finding Kyrie on the chair far below the keys.

“How much have you been sleeping?” she asked.

“A lot, but it’s making me understand,” he smiled.

“Understand what?”

“Why you don’t trust me. I can’t really see how I’d look to you at my real height, but I think I get it. At least a bit now… Melody.”

“I almost thought you forgot. I said it just before I left.”

“I won’t ever forget your name.”

“Maybe you should. Maybe you should forget I exist, that this happened. Then you can go back to your normal life.”

“I don’t want my normal life. I want a life where I know you.”

“Maybe you’ll never know me. Maybe I live near you and I’ve already started to move away. Maybe I never want to meet you.”

“Then I guess I have to just hope you can’t make these dreams stop with your own opinion…” He gave her a look that sent a chill down her spine. A chill she kind of liked. “Plus I kind of think you don’t hate this as much as you pretend to. I think… maybe you feel what I feel too. That this is real for us and we should make it work. In and out of this dream.”

“No… I think you’re a human and this is just how the universe decided to add to the curse it gave me.”

“You said that before, why do you think you’re cursed?” He stepped forward and her world changed. He was looking down at her. The only emotion was worry in the eyes that felt too blue and she wasn’t scared. The strange image got closer, staring down at her. “Is it because of me?”

Massive hands came to rest next to her. She should be afraid. Nervous at least that he was so close. She wondered if he saw this. If Kyrie was seeing how small she was next to his fingers. A part of her hoped he did. Another part hoped he didn’t. All of her was tempted to touch the fingers resting near her.

“No… I’ve always been cursed. I get sick a lot, I can’t run for very long,” Melody started. She knew she should stop. Telling a human these things would kill her. He would know how to trap her. “I’m not good at climbing and others usually think I’m a burden. I’m a curse. A curse that ended with a human in my dreams…”

“Well… maybe it’s not a curse.”

“Of course it is.”

“Maybe it’s just normal. Humans have those things too. Struggles running for long times, getting sick a lot, not climbing well, feeling like a burden.”

“You don’t get it!” She stomped her foot, the key made a noise, and the image of a human around her was gone. The whole world changed again. Setting them face to face on mirrored pianos. “I’m supposed to do these things. We’re not just small, our bodies are different. Climbing is how we survive. We’re built for it and I can’t do it like I’m supposed to!”

“Maybe-”

“No! You… have you tried climbing? You say you’re trying to understand me, but have you done anything to live how I do? How I’m supposed to?”

“I can’t when you won’t tell me what it takes for you to live.”

Melody closed her eyes, almost wishing she had a hook and bag to give to him. A way to show what should be possible. When she opened her eyes he had exactly what she wanted. The tools needed. Slowly the world shifted again, back to the kitchen from earlier. This time they were on the floor, and Kyrie had a water bag on his shoulder.

“What the…?” he mumbled.

“You want to live like me, like I should, fine. Use that hook to get to the top of this human thing and fill that bag with water. I’ll show you what I can.”

Melody had her own hook appear on her shoulder. The one she and Caprice shared. She threw it up in a smooth motion, it wasn’t hard at this part. A few tugs to promise it was safe and she took off climbing. Her hands ached from the climb, stupid things she’d done to hurt them. Things that had helped her family at least. She pushed that from her mind as she reached the top, this was part one. It was the rest that made it so hard.

Looking over the edge Kyrie was staring at her with wide eyes. Slowly he mimicked her movements, he couldn’t even reach high enough with the hook. She watched him as he tried again and again. Eventually she threw her own rope down for him. Kyrie didn’t take it, continuing his own attempts.

“I have to wake up soon!” she called down.

“By the time you come back I’ll be able to do this!”

Melody woke up right after she heard those words. It was early, Caprice was still asleep. She climbed to her feet, she had to do something. Her heart was heavy and Kyrie’s determination made her feel strange. A human was so determined to have her trust. The same type of thing she was hiding from in the walls of a house. He wanted to teach her things and spend time with her. Worse, she was starting to really believe him.

At the entrance they used most often she ducked out. In the shadows she heard their heavy tired steps. Early for her was even earlier for the humans. Loud clinks came from the kitchen. She listened with her eyes closed. Kyrie holding her tightly as they hid was stuck in her mind. If that could be real she wouldn’t mind having someone twice her size around. Except he was a human.

The humans kept up their noise for a while. When it died down she managed to hear their plans. Ones that would have them out of the house in a few days for an entire night. She had to keep that in mind if they needed anything major. She moved back into the walls with a plan to take inventory and list out what they needed.

When she got home things were different than she expected. Caprice was awake and had a strange thing behind him. He had a big smile on his face when he turned to look at her. Stepping aside she saw what almost looked like a piano. Her eyes went wide as she took it in.

“Cap, what is this?” she asked. As she got closer she could see the strings he stole years and years ago. That was unbelievable. She thought by now they were gone.

“It took a while, but this is your birthday present. I’ve collected the stuff in pretty much every house, but this is the first time I could build it. It should make noises like the one we saw that day,” he smiled. If she was right the humans were still far enough she could try it. So she reached out and touched a key, it only had the white ones. It sounded wrong, out of tune now that she’d heard it so clearly. It was more beautiful than the music in her dream.

“This is amazing.” Melody ran up and hugged her brother tightly. Now she knew what to do with the humans leaving soon. “Thank you so much. I can’t believe we have a piano. At least with most of the keys.”

“Is that what it’s called? When did you learn that? What are you talking about keys for?”

Melody felt her blood freeze. “Oh, uh, in one of those things the humans watch. They had one there? I overheard?”

Caprice pulled away from her and crossed his arms. Her secret was coming out. “Melody, are you hiding something?”

“No!” Too fast, he doubted.

“Is it from your dreams?”

“Of course not!” Narrowed eyes, she was failing. He was the only person who ever saw through her lies.

“Melody, tell me now.”

She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath… “There has been someone in my dream… since the first night.”

“There’s more isn’t there? You wouldn’t hide that from me.”

“...he’s human.”

“You’re that against telling me you’re making up something impossible?”

“He told me about pianos and that the white and black bars are called keys. It’s used for music, the hammers hit the strings to play the music.”

“Mel you have got to be kidding. You got this from somewhere else right?” Melody shook her head. Caprice slowly let his arms fall, his face twisted into a mixture of hurt and anger. “So you’ve what? Been meeting a human every time you fall asleep and haven’t told me? Does he know your name? That we exist? What have you told him?”

“Nothing!” She stumbled back, she was the one with a bad temper usually. It didn’t mean Caprice didn’t have one of his own. “Well… mostly nothing.”

“What does mostly mean?”

“He… knows my name.”

“...and?”

“And that I’m always as small as I am in the dream.”

“Mel! What-”

“And that I’m not the only one like me that exists.”

“Melody what the hell were you thinking? We need to plan to move! You hid this and this human has been able to use these dreams to figure out exactly where you are!”

“We haven’t been here at all! He doesn’t know about you or-or anything else. He thinks I’m on my own. He keeps saying that he won’t hurt me and wants to help. I think he means it.”

“You could be leading so many of us into danger entertaining this Melody. You could have at least told me so we could have made plans! I can’t believe you would even consider trusting a human after what happened to mom and dad!”

“I’m not! I haven’t told him anything where he can find us! I wouldn’t do that. You think I’d put us at risk for someone I met in a dream? I would never do that!”

Caprice turned and walked out. Melody was left alone, angry at the whole situation. She stared at the piano he made for her… He was right. As much as she wanted to think Kyrie was worth it Caprice was right. Humans were a risk. A human knowing that she even existed was a risk. She put every borrower in danger like this.

All she could bring herself to do was stare at the gift. The matches were gone and Caprice had saved the strings for so long for her. She wouldn’t sleep anymore, not until Kyrie accepted the dreams had to stop. When the humans went out she’d go get the metal thing she saw get lost. A replacement for the matches at least.

Caprice was gone for the whole day and Melody forced herself to stay awake. The threat of Kyrie being there was too much now. When her eyes grew heavy and sleep started to take her she poked herself with a needle. It was better than sleeping. Caprice stalked in late at night and sat with her. He put his head on her shoulder without a word.

“I’m going to avoid dreaming Caprice,” she whispered.

“That’s pretty hard when you have to sleep, he can’t always be there right?” he asked.

“He’s there a lot. Said he wants to understand.”

“Maybe you can mislead him? Make him think we work some way we don’t.”

“I can try… I don’t… There’s something when I’m there… it’s hard to trust what I know I should do. I thought I saw him as a human the other night, towering over me and hands closing in. I wasn’t scared…”

“Mel… you know even if this human says things-,” she put a hand on one of his.

“I know… I’ll do what I can to redirect him. At first he said he’d tell me things. Told me all about the piano. We even played it together.”

“How?”

“We danced…”

She told Caprice about all of her dreams. Leaving out when she fell asleep for a bit watching the humans. He didn’t have to worry when that wouldn’t matter. He actually smiled when she said Kyrie protected her in the dream. That he lifted her when they danced. His determination to try climbing, even if she wasn’t great at it she could still show up a human. Eventually they fell asleep together, leaning against the wall.

Melody opened her eyes to that kitchen again. She wasn’t at the edge this time. It was like she was trapped in a strange glass watching as Kyrie moved about. He managed to get on top, she could hear muffled joy from him. He turned his attention to the sink, holding the water bag with one hand. It would be hard. She put a hand on the glass, the image changing slightly. He was standing in front of the sink as a human looking down and pinching the bag in two fingers. 

“Why couldn’t you just forget me already?” she whispered. If he forgot she could forget. Somehow he heard her. The massive Kyrie turned to face where she was. Before he could answer she begged to wake up. Thankfully she did, at least an hour later too. She could do this.

There were a few more times she fell asleep. Kyrie was there for most of them. The one time he wasn’t she stayed, but he appeared and she woke up. Getting any closer would lead to pain. There was enough of that already. She could and would be happy just surviving like she and Caprice always did.

When Caprice woke up they didn’t talk. He went out to get what they needed, she noticed he took the bag they filled for moving. They had to prepare at least. She stopped working on the blanket and worked on packing what she could. It would be best to have it ready if the dreams took a turn. The day had her pulled into the dream a few times. Kyrie tried to call her name when she was there.

By that night she was exhausted. Caprice could see it, he made her lay on his lap while he worked on other things. She agreed to just rest her eyes. Sleep would only mean Kyrie. The human that made her want to trust him. She slipped a few times during that time too, but Kyrie wasn’t able to catch her. She didn’t know if he could keep her asleep. When she found Caprice asleep she got up and worked on the blanket again. She didn’t need to sleep.

Days kept going like that. She got a few hours here and there, but never much. Sometimes she was in just the right spot Kyrie couldn’t find her and she’d see him trying to get water or food. Other times he saw her and tried to reach her. At least once she got to dance on the piano, waking up when she heard him clap again. It was working though.

It worked enough that she felt safe hiding the fact the humans were leaving. Each day Caprice would give her a look like he had something to say. They could talk once she gave him his new birthday present. She prepared what she needed for her own trip out of the walls. Her staying awake made it easy to tell when Caprice was asleep and she could sneak out.

Quiet and determined, Melody made her way to the entrance she needed. The same one the matches were left outside of. It would be fine. 

She ran through each piece of furniture confidently. Pausing to catch her breath a few times. It would be easy.

When she was nearly at the spot the metal thing she’d taken note of had landed she smiled. Confidently, she walked forward… Confidently her steps tripped something her tired mind had missed… Confidently she screeched as metal slammed down, trapping her in something the humans had put together. Something that would have been noticed if she’d been awake that day… Something that would mean she was dead.

“Melody!” Caprice’s voice was too close. He shouldn’t be out here now. She was on a trip alone. He ran up to her, he must have followed her. She should have noticed.

“What are you doing here?” she hissed. 

“You were acting weird, I knew I had to follow you… You need to sleep for real Melody. It’s been days. When I get you out of this you’re sleeping even if that human is there…”

“Caprice, just go home. I'll get out of this, don't worry.”

“No, and… when you sleep find out where he is. We’ll go to his house and find out for sure if we can trust him.”

“Caprice…”

Her brother ran off and she was alone. They had time and tools for things like this. It was a cage, a metal cage with thick bars that no borrower could squeeze through. She ran her hands over them, there had to be an option. She was so tired, she couldn’t think straight. Melody tried to stick her hand through the bars, she couldn’t reach anything. Time felt weird, where was Caprice?

A few blinks and the world was too light. What time did she finally leave? It wasn’t close to dawn was it? Maybe it had been. Caprice came back with the tools they had in his hands. She gripped the bar, they were too thick. She shook her head, he frowned and ran off again. More blinks, more time. It was getting risky. The humans would be home… Would the humans check for her?

The door opened and her blood froze. Caprice was nearby. They shared a look for a long time. She wasn’t getting out. It was her own fault. He ran up to her as the door slammed from the humans coming in. The heavy steps made them both grab the bars to stay standing.

“Go, I made the mistake just go. Find one of those other borrower groups we’ve met and stay there. I’m sorry Cap… I should have told you from the start,” she whispered. He placed one of his hands over her own.

“Mel… I shouldn’t have blamed you… You want to trust the human right?” he asked. She couldn’t lie to herself now of all times. She nodded. “I’ll keep them busy. Tell him where we are and have him come help. Just wait until I’ve got them distracted. What happened to mom and dad won’t happen to us.”

“Caprice, don't do it. Just run. I’ve always been fucking cursed just let it play out.”

“Do what I said. I’m keeping you safe like I’ve always promised. Wait until they’re distracted.”

Melody watched in fear as Caprice ran off. She was alone now and the humans were stomping around. Her tired and terrified mind barely processed one of them said to check a trap. That had to be what she was in. They were going to find her. She moved to the side that could see the humans. One of them was right in front of her. She could barely breathe.

Then a crash. The two humans ran off. They were far enough she could see their hands. See how one dangled Caprice by his leg in the air. The way they started to inspect him. She couldn’t make out the words they said, her pulse was too loud. Time slowed as one of the humans moved. A hand getting closer to her brother. Even from here she could see the one holding him by his leg tense. 

The world froze. She wanted to wake up in bed. Make it so none of this happened. Go back to her birthday and forget about those stupid matches. Never start her dreams. The only good thing that came from them was Caprice no longer being afraid. Slowly time moved forward. The human hand tensed more and somehow she heard the moment it caused a crack. The moment a borrower’s leg was shattered. The only noise louder was the awful wail of pain that followed. The next thing she knew her world went dark.

“-dy! -ody! Melody!” Kyrie’s voice brought her from the darkness. He stood over her, hands as big as her forearm cupped her face. She dived at his chest as tears fell from her eyes.

“I need your help! Please I’m in so much trouble everything is awful. The humans I live with found us. Please,” she cried. Massive arms wrapped around her. They offered safety just like the night on the table in the kitchen. 

“I need to know where you are.” Melody nodded into his chest. She tried her best to remember the information humans would recognize, but all that was in her mind were the monsters holding her brother. The arms around her tightened, she wanted to feel safer. To know no one could touch her. “Wait… I know those two… I know where you are. I’m coming, Melody. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

He pulled away, grabbing her chin in his hand. He tilted her head up and kissed her. It was powerful, intense, and warm. She could feel the determination behind his action. It felt like an ending to something too. Did he know that this would change things? That he’d have her and be able to keep her like a pet? Did he plan to get rid of her and free himself of her dreams?

“Just wait for me. It won’t be long,” he whispered against her lips. “I won’t let them touch you anymore.”

She managed to see what he’d seen. The humans holding someone who looked almost like her. Of course he wouldn’t know. She never mentioned Caprice. That was too dangerous. He was gone before she could tell him. Sitting in the dream she thought that might be best. He’d walk off with Caprice and she’d be forgotten. Her brother and Kyrie free from the curse she brought to them.

That would be later for now she forced herself awake. The humans had left the room, she couldn’t see her brother. They didn’t move her trap at least. Although that felt a lot more bad than good. She couldn’t get out and now Kyrie was coming. Caprice told her to ask for his help, but that was before. All she could do was stare at the door waiting for the human she wanted to trust to barge in.

Too much time passed before there was a noise. A noise she knew meant a human was outside. Would Kyrie try to get in politely? Would he just say she was his to get them out? So many questions she couldn’t answer. One of the humans came back, grumbling about it not being their fault. The door was ripped open to reveal a petite black woman. Long blonde hair trailed down her back and her eyes almost looked white.

“I’m sorry, Byss and I need some help again. Would you two mind?” the woman said. The human Melody knew shook his head. 

“Hey, the doctors need some help again!” The voice was too loud and it made her cover her ears. She tried not to think about the chances they’d bring Cap along.

“Oh, it’s one of my patients so you probably should make sure you have empty pockets.”

“Don’t bring anything along!”

Melody closed her eyes as steps shook her cage. She wanted to get out and find Caprice. To promise him she’d never do something so stupid again. She’d sleep and stay far from the human so this could never happen again. She chanced looking towards the humans again. She saw as one set Caprice in a jar on a table in her sight. He wasn’t dead at least.

The sound of the door closing was a relief. She wanted some sign her brother was going to survive. To let him know she got help. Instead the door opened and a new human walked in. Hair a strange shade of blue and eyes that reminded her of water. Kyrie was here and the dreams didn’t prepare her for his real size. She’d never seen a human so tall. A part of her wanted to call out, but her voice wouldn’t work.

Kyrie walked closer and his step was enough to knock her off her feet. She could tell the moment he noticed Caprice. The steps kept going as he walked right up to her brother. She had to do something to let him know it was ok. Kyrie blocked her view of the jar once he stood in front of it. She could only imagine how Caprice would feel. Massive hands lifting the jar and dumping him out. 

Melody climbed to her feet and stared out of the cage in worry. Kyrie didn’t know about her brother’s leg. It could get worse if he did something wrong. The lid was put to the side, she didn’t even know he’d opened the jar. The scream of pain she expected never happened, instead she watched the hand so much bigger than her and her brother reach in the jar and grab him. Kyrie brought the hand with her brother to his face.

“Sorry, I didn’t want to try dumping you out if you were hurt,” Kyrie whispered. His voice was so much louder than the dreams. He was talking to Caprice though, that was good. “Are you hurt, Melody?”

A part of her was hurt; he didn't realize it wasn’t her. That made sense though. She and Caprice were identical. Their differences were kind of obvious if you looked. They were too small to him, he wouldn’t notice. At least her brother was-

“Wait… I’m sorry you two look similar and I kind of assumed she was the one they found. Are you family?” Melody was stunned, he realized it… “We don’t have time for that. We should get going, where’s Melody?”

“Over here!” she tried to shout. It came out at her normal volume. It was hard to make herself talk when she was on the ground and he was so… big.

It looked like it had been enough. He turned around looking towards her. Her heart entered her throat as a step came closer. It got worse when he rushed, step after step getting closer to her. She took steps back as he got closer, but nothing was getting her away from the massive human.

“I thought…” he muttered.

She tripped over her feet and fell back into the wall of the cage. The noise had one of Kyrie’s knees hitting the ground immediately. The light she had in her prison disappeared as his face darkened the opening. She wasn’t sure he could see her, but that didn’t stop one of his hands reaching forward. Easily opening the entrance, they way she and Caprice never could. The door opened, she wanted to run. Instead a hand bigger than her reached inside, backing her into a corner.

Fingers taller than her wrapped around her. The fight in her heart died, they felt familiar. Like the times he held her promising she’d be safe. The hand pulled her out and up as Kyrie himself stood. She never thought about how terrifying it was to be so high with no control. The fingers holding her started to open and she faced a smile she’d seen at least a dozen times.

“Found you,” he whispered. It made her flinch, he was so loud. On his other hand Caprice tried to stand, but his leg was broken at least. Kyrie’s face darkened as he moved her closer to her brother. His hand tilted and she slid off landing next to him. “Anyone else?”

Melody reached Caprice, held his hand, and looked up at Kyrie. A simple shake of her head was her answer. Kyrie nodded and held his palm against his chest. She could hear the thundering heartbeat beneath the warm skin. Caprice squeezed her hand. They were alive and that was better than nothing.

Kyrie was moving, she couldn’t tell where. Each step rocked her spine. Each step made Caprice wince. It would be a while before he could walk again. It would be a while before they were settled. They were always so careful. Always so prepared. Now it was all gone. The door she heard shut so many times slammed as Kyrie left.

“We’re alive,” Caprice whispered.

“They broke your leg,” she hissed back. “You should have run. It would have been fine if it was me.”

“You wouldn’t have gotten this giant to help if I let them find you.” The hand around them tensed, he couldn’t hear them right?

“Doesn’t matter. It’s gonna be hell setting everything up now. We don’t have anything this time… It’s all my fault.”

“No it’s not.”

“Yes it is.”

“No it’s not.”

“Yes it is!”

“It isn’t!”

“It is!”

“It isn’t!”

“You can’t prove me wrong. The matches are probably what tipped them off!”

“If it was then it’s my fault for throwing them out of the walls!”

“I should have watched better!”

“You weren’t sleeping because I got mad!”

“You wouldn’t have gotten hurt if I didn’t hide the dreams from you!”

“They would have one of us trapped for good if I didn’t give you a chance to get help!”

Kyrie cleared his throat, Melody jumped and she knew her own face was as red as Caprice’s. Both she and Caprice looked up to see worried eyes on them. They weren't careful… again. She was going to get them killed.

“I think those two were on to you for a while,” he said. The words rumbled through them, a horrible feeling when he was saying they were known about. “They kept talking to Pel about how to deal with mice.”

“We’re not mice,” Caprice huffed. She couldn’t believe how calm he was. How calm she was. They were literally in someone’s hand, but it didn’t feel terrifying.

“One of you is hurt?” Melody shared a look with Caprice. A warning in his eyes, a warning she decided to ignore.

“They were holding him by his leg and started to argue. I heard a crack before…” She trailed off.

Kyrie looked up for a second before looking back at them. “…Can you trust me? Both of you?”

Another shared look. Caprice squeezed her hand again. “We kind of have to.”

A nod and something that felt like a promise as he held them against his heart. Caprice could see it. She knew he could. Something with this human made it hard to doubt. Hard to deny that he wouldn’t hurt them or trap them. A door opening, people talking. One of them sounded like the woman who came to the door.

“Byssal, I’m sure he had a good reason,” the woman’s voice sounded a bit tired.

“I don’t care about the reason Pel. He’s been trapped in his room for over a week and now this? Those two idiots are more likely to-” the man’s angry voice stopped. The hand she was on tensed again. “Kyrie, what the hell is going through your head? Getting Pelago to help you sneak into someone’s house?!”

“I had to…,” he said. His hand tense again before it moved. He flattened it, showing them off to two new humans. The woman who had been at the door. A man with green eyes and hair, pale skin, and a terrifying glare on his face. “They needed help.”

“What the…” The man’s stern gaze started to fall as he watched them. Melody tried not to be scared. Caprice’s fingers dug into her hand from his own attempt to stay brave. 

“Byss stop staring,” the woman slapped his arm before coming towards them. She smiled, her face was right in front of them. Somehow it made Melody more scared of this woman. “What are they, Kyrie?”

“Things that can talk,” Caprice grumbled. The woman’s eyes went wide and Caprice jumped. It wasn’t supposed to be heard, she knew that without even wondering. The two of them scrambled away from the human that definitely would be mad now.

“I shouldn’t have assumed. I’m Pelago, the grump behind me is Byssal. Who are you?”

Fingers curled up to block them from her view. Melody felt better with that. Without those eyes on her she looked at Caprice. He was pale, more so than normal. His short brown hair was slick with sweat. There was too much at risk. Whatever they did while she got help…

“Kyrie you found… people? Few inch tall people and snuck in to save them!?” the man.. Byssal again. “What is going on? How did you even know? None of this makes sense.”

“Help Caprice and I’ll tell you anything you want to know,” Melody said. 

“Mel, what are you talking about?” Caprice growled. The other man came closer to look at them. His eyes were too sharp. 

“What happened?”

“Nothing!”

“They grabbed him, held him by one leg and with two fingers made it crack. I… I don’t know what else and he probably won’t tell you.”

“Melody. Shut up.” The woman’s hands came close and separated Caprice from Melody. She held him close to her chest. That conversation where she promised nothing would change screamed in her mind. Everything was changing. The two humans nodded at each other before Caprice was taken away… somewhere she might never see him again.

“We’ll make sure he’s ok. Are you hurt?” Melody shook her head. “What’s your name?”

“Melody…”

One of the man’s fingers came close and rubbed her head. The smile on his face was unexpected. “He’ll be fine, you won’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to.”

She watched as he walked off. It was left as just her and Kyrie in the room together. He walked off without saying anything, taking her somewhere even farther from Caprice. Another way her curse had ruined everything for them. Another way she was a burden…

“Byss and Pel won’t hurt him. They’ll make sure he’s ok,” Kyrie whispered.

“What happens now?” she asked. The safe feeling she had was gone. This was a human holding her in his hand. Caprice was off with two others and she’d have to explain eventually. Reveal borrowers to three humans…

Kyrie didn’t answer right away. He kept walking until he reached a closed door. She stared at it as he pushed it open, a normal room with a dollhouse on a desk. He sat down in front of it and she thought it was almost funny. He thought of her like a doll, after all of this she was just a doll to him. 

“Over the last few days I got this, it has electricity and beds and stuff. I figured you could stay here for now… When Caprice is better the two of you can leave or stay whatever you want,” he whispered. The hand holding her finally moved away from his chest. She climbed off right away, but looked up at him. Instead of going into the house, she sat down leaning her back against one of the walls.

“Can you… Can we talk until they’re done with Caprice?” she asked. The grin she wanted to hate… the one she knew she couldn’t.

“Sure, about what?”

“...I’ll tell you about me now, if you want.”

Kyrie folded his arms and put his head on them, so close to her. “I’d love that.”

She told him all she could think of about her life. About the matches they argued over and the piano Caprice made. It lasted for hours, long enough for Caprice to be carried in by Byssal. Kyrie got a pillow for Caprice, she climbed up to stay with him. Everything changed, but she was at least a little hopeful that maybe everything wouldn’t be bad.

When Caprice woke up he looked at her with hope, a hope she hadn’t seen in a long time. “They were nice… Maybe we’re finally somewhere really safe…”

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Melody, are you ready?” Kyrie asked. She nodded and his huge fingers slowly wrapped around her. A quick movement to bring her up to his face before letting her out on his palm. He smirked at her before pressing her into his palm with a warm kiss. By the time he pulled away she was laughing. A whole year of simple times like this.

“I thought you were asking if I was ready to go!” she smiled.

“It can be both things.”

Kyrie moved his hand to his chest. She loved hearing the steady beat behind her. She was starting to like the height too. He eventually pressed her against him so it was impossible to see what was happening. She grumbled a bit, but didn’t argue. When the steps stopped shocking her spine she got excited.

“Kyrie you took forever, hurry up and put her down. Mel keep your eyes closed,” Caprice shouted. It made her smile, he had gotten so used to the humans. To what they brought into the lives of two lonely borrowers.

She kept her eyes closed as the fingers closed in around her again. Her stomach dropped a bit as he let her off somewhere. Caprice grabbed her hand and she waited. Kyrie’s steps rumbled through the table they were on. She was getting curious. She froze as music she only heard once started to play. Caprice pulled her hands, having music follow each step.

“Open,” her brother whispered. Slowly she listened, shocked by what she found. A flat set of piano keys on the table. Kyrie stood on a farther end, playing the keys. Her steps added to the sound. “Have fun Mel, just like your dream.”

Caprice ran off before she could say anything. Slowly Kyrie ran his fingers over the flat keys to reach her again. Her brother would be long gone after only a few minutes. Melody took pointed steps to play only the notes she wanted. It could be like that first night, like the dreams they still shared. Just in reality. For the first birthday in her life, she didn’t feel like a curse. She was glad her dreams changed everything.