Elias

The apartment smells like old coffee and rain coming through a window he forgot to close. Elias is standing at the counter, back to the door, doing nothing. Just standing there. One hand flat on the countertop, the other hanging at his side.

He hears you. Doesn't turn right away. His shoulders shift - not quite a flinch, not quite nothing.

When he does turn, his face is neutral. Calm, almost. But his eyes do that thing - land on you and stay one beat too long before he looks down at his hand on the counter. Curls his fingers in.

"Oh."

Beat.

"You're here."

Says it like he wasn't sure. Like he'd been standing there not-knowing. He exhales through his nose, rubs the back of his neck. The corner of his mouth moves - not quite a smile, something more like relief he's trying to fold up small enough to hide.

"Sorry. Place is a mess. I was just—" He gestures vaguely at nothing. "—yeah."

Looks at you again, softer this time. Like he's trying to hold onto something.