The light pouring in from the window was reflected in the shine of the dark wooden furniture placed alongside the walls of the long hall; only the white doors, two on each side of the hall, divided the cabinets. There were stairs in the middle of the hall and at the bottom of them a small child, about three years old,was sitting, a teddy bear in his arms, his gaze never wavering from the massive, white, wooden door before him.
The sound of the car pulling into the driveway followed by the sound of opening and shutting of its doors alerted the child. He slid three stairs lower, still clutching his teddy bear tightly against his chest. Black hair framed his round cheeks and he strained his ears to hear the footsteps that should soon be coming toward the house.
The entrance door finally opened. A slightly older, more mature version of the boy appeared, and immediately the child flew towards him, forcing his older version to drop the bags he was carrying to receive the affectionate hug and lift the child up.
"Set, you little dumpling. Did you miss me?" The older version tossed the child he was holding in the air then gently positioned him on his hip.
Set squealed in delight and grasped his brother's black shirt in his hands.
"Geb, your ass is blocking the door. Move." A tall man appeared behind Geb, his features so similar to both of the boys', and used his hips to push the older boy forward. "We need to get in."
The second door on the right side of the hall opened and a woman with brownish hair and a big sparkling smile came in sight. "Jack. Finally. What took you so long?"
"Troubles on the road," Jack murmured, walking past Set then climbing the stairs, two big bags in his hands.
The woman smiled at her husband then looked past Geb at the boy who was lingering at the entrance and waved at him to enter. "Come in, come in. I don't bite."
The boy stepped in and closed the door behind him. A shy smile flashed on his face and he tucked a wisp of his blonde hair that had fallen across his face behind his ear.
Set peeked over Geb's shoulder at the stranger, his blue pupils dilating as he drank in the sight offered to him: long, soft, blonde hair was falling over the boy's shoulders in layers, framing a face adorned with high cheekbones. Warm, green eyes were cautiously gazing around.
"Down, down." Set fidgeted in his brother's hold, and the moment he was set down, raced towards the boy, gluing himself to the blonde's leg, clutching it in a tight grip. Then, as though on second thought, he raised his arms towards the boy: "Up, up."
When the boy didn't comply quickly enough with his wishes, Set stomped his foot and a small sob of annoyance left his throat: "Up…up!"
Geb raised his eyebrow and sighed theatrically. "Oooh, love at first sight."
The boy lifted Set, who leaned his small body against the boy's chest, tucking his chin in the hollow of his neck.
"Preti. Preti," Set sighed, cheeks flushed as he fisted a hand in the long, blonde hair, the thumb of his other hand finding a place in his mouth. He closed his eyes in contentment.
"Well, that's something new," the woman said, closing the distance between her and the boys. "He's very shy and he usually hides in front of strangers."