Chapter Text
Derek is getting a new neighbor, apparently.
He realizes this when he sees a moving truck pull up outside in one of the lots, and a man steps out of the passenger side. All tanned skin and blonde hair talkative aura, seemingly chatting with the driver as the driver helps him carry boxes up to the building.
Derek watches them fetch box after box out of the truck—feeling like a bit of a creep as he does so, to be honest—and not once does he step out into the hallway and offer to help.
That's not really a thing he does for complete strangers.
He hears their footsteps up the stairs and down the hall, hears the door to the new apartment opening and closing periodically. Hears them making idle conversation, nothing too loud or excited. From the sound of things, the new neighbor is settling across the hall from him.
It's the next day that he meets the new neighbor. Sometime in the afternoon, there's a knock.
Derek has had neighbors introduce themselves to him before. There's a type to them; extroverted, far too cheery for their own good, and far too eager to make their existence known to someone who'd rather just go through life not knowing them.
Based on the fact this new neighbor is knocking, and what he'd seen of him with another person, he assumes him to be very much the same.
. . .
He doesn't expect to open the door to a man that looks…
…
Tired.
It's the simplest way he can describe him.
A heavy slouch that cannot be close to healthy. The underside of his eyes ringed dark from a lack of sleep, or something just as exhausting. His hair looks the opposite of put together; tangled and uneven and greasy. Derek thinks the man is about his age, but, the weary creases by his eyes want to give him the impression otherwise.
And…
His eyes.
Gods, the man's eyes.
He's never seen a green so dim.
He's never seen a living being seem so lifeless.
Their eyes meet.
A flicker of a smile, or something, twitches across the man's lips.
"Hi," the man almost whispers, voice ridiculously, immeasurably soft. "I'm Avery."
"Avery" doesn't stick his hand out to him. There's a moment where his eyes flick up and down, presumably taking in Derek's appearance. There's not much to it—just sweatpants and a hoodie.
But when the man meets his gaze again, there's something somehow softer in those listless depths.
"…Hi," Derek answers slowly, uncertain. "Derek."
He doesn't know what else to give, but…
Avery smiles gently, as if just hearing a greeting back from him is enough. It reaches his eyes, but the green of them doesn't brighten.
"Figured I'd introduce myself." He shrugs. "'Case we cross paths again."
…
…Right.
Avery shrugs again. "I'll, uh. I'll leave you alone now." His smile fades. "If you n—" He stops himself, but takes his smile back. It doesn't make it to his eyes again. "See you."
With a halfhearted wave, Avery leaves.
And Derek isn't reminded of Avery's existence for at least another month.