Elliot

1 - A fresh start

Elliot gritted his teeth, the box in his arms biting into his forearms as he climbed the seemingly endless staircase. The building's elevator was "under maintenance," a detail he hadn't noticed during the apartment tour, and now his slim but toned dancer's frame was put to the test. Beads of sweat trickled down his back, but he kept moving. Just a few more flights.
Heavy footsteps echoed behind him, followed by low voices. Glancing over his shoulder, he spotted two guys about his age ascending the stairs. They were tall and broad-shouldered, their resemblance striking—same blue eyes, same strong jawline—but their expressions couldn't have been more different.

"Hey, need a hand with that?" one of them called out, a friendly grin lighting up his face. He quickened his pace, reaching Elliot in a few long strides.

Elliot hesitated, his grip tightening on the box. "Oh, no, I'm good, but thanks," he said quickly. Then, realizing he sounded dismissive, he added, "I mean, I've got it. I should've done some stairs training or something, though. Cardio is definitely not my strong suit."

The man laughed. "Come on, let me help. You look like you're one box away from collapsing." Without waiting for an answer, he took the box, lifting it with infuriating ease.

The other guy stayed a few steps behind, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. "You don't even know him, Alec," he muttered, his tone low but not quiet enough to go unheard.

Alec shot his brother a look. "And? It's called being neighborly, Nate."

Elliot blinked, unsure whether to laugh or hide. "Uh, thanks... Alec, was it?"

"That's me," Alec said, beaming. "And this ball of sunshine back here is Nate."

"Elliot," he introduced himself, awkwardly shifting to offer a hand. Alec shook it warmly, while Nate gave a stiff nod, his eyes flicking to the box Alec now carried effortlessly.

"Welcome to the building," Alec said. "You're on the top floor, right? We're your next-door neighbors."

Elliot's stomach twisted. Of course, they were. He plastered on a smile, hoping it didn't look too strained. "Well, guess I lucked out with strong neighbors. Should I expect free moving services with my rent, or is this a one-time deal?"

"Depends how good your coffee is," Alec shot back, his grin widening.

Elliot snorted, his nerves loosening just a fraction. "I can't make coffee to save my life, so I hope you're okay with bribes in the form of muffins or pizza."

Nate rolled his eyes. "Some of us are stronger than others," he muttered, his tone clipped, but Alec just laughed.

As they reached the top floor, Elliot couldn't decide whether his pounding heart was from the climb—or the unexpected company. Either way, this move was already shaping up to be more eventful than he'd imagined. 

Elliot peeked at the brothers as they walked infront of him, their contrasting features pulling his attention. Alec's hair caught the light, an almost golden hue that added to the warmth of his personality. His curls swiveled messily on top of his head, as though styled by the wind—or maybe a complete disregard for a comb. Nate, on the other hand, had much darker hair, straighter and meticulously styled. It suited his more serious demeanor, every strand in place, like he'd planned it to say as little as he did.

The contrast between them was striking, but the resemblance was undeniable, from their piercing blue eyes to the similar cut of their sharp jawlines. It was like staring at two halves of a whole—one gleaming and carefree, the other polished and reserved.

Elliot fumbled with his keys, acutely aware of Alec standing beside him, the box balanced effortlessly in his arms. The sound of Nate's door closing with a solid *thunk* down the hall made the quiet stretch a little thinner.