The Devil Named Deimos

432 Park Avenue

Up class suburban streets quickly melt into city avenues on the way back home. The Devil has his head resting against the cold window and his chin resting on his fingers; he seems to be in deep thought, or sleeping with his eyes open. I had the urge to roll down the window just to see him hit his head, but quickly dismissed that idea because he would probably kill me.

"What building do you live in?" I ask softly, careful not to disturb the silence. He hasn't even told me where he lives, and right now I'm just following the directions to my own apartment.

"432 Park Avenue, we're close." This has to be a joke; that's the building I live in. 

Oh Lord, save me from the Devil.

"What floor?" I ask as we hit a red light, turning towards Deimos. He just looks at me with a raised eyebrow, and I realize I sound like a complete creep. "I live in the same building and I'm curious to know how we've never met before."

"The penthouse," Deimos says with an uninterested tone. He is lying, what a poser.

"That's not possible," I press the gas as the light turns green, "because I live in the penthouse." Out of the corner of my eye, I see him rub his temples as if me talking is causing him pain.

"The building has two penthouses, Ms. Vulcan. I can't tell if you're pretending to be this stupid, or if you actually are." Great, this shithead is my freaking neighbor.

"I can't tell if you're pretending to be an asshole, or you actually are one, but either way this is my car, and I can kick you the hell out if I want to," I say tightening my grip on the steering wheel. He is literally being an dick for no reason.

"Of course, my apologies, Ms. Vulcan," Deimos drawls out as he returns to resting his head against the window. As I approach a turn I veer my car to the left as audaciously as I can, and my plan works as the Devil hits his head on the window. Hard.

"What the fuck was that?" Deimos roars, clutching the side of his head. I have to bite my lip to contain my laughter. One point for Aurora.

"Sorry I lost my grip for a second," I say but I accidentally let one snicker escape me. This is the best thing that happened all night. I hear him mumble a few, strong curses but he doesn't talk to me the rest of the ride. Serves him right.

---

I drop my keys in the hand of the valet worker, and don't wait up for the Devil to get out of my car. I walk through the main entrance and the worker greets us; I notice Deimos is right next to me. His hair is disheveled by this point and somehow it suits him. I hate how perfect he is.

I make no move to speak to him. Why should I? He's done nothing but be an asshole, and I've done nothing but offer him a ride home. As we approach the elevator I press my key card against the scanner to grant us access, and we both step inside. Deimos leans on the wall of the elevator across from me, with his head down.

"Is your broken car the reason you missed the meeting, Mr. Themis?" I ask in a soft, but menacing tone. Not looking at him, but rather directing my attention to the number of floors increasing.

"I don't see how that is any of your business, Ms. Vulcan," he says in a harsh tone. His posture is tense, and I can tell his fists are clenched in his pockets.

"It very well is my business, because I could have had booked another meeting for that time and been making a beneficial business deal; rather than wasting my time waiting for you," I snap back angrily. I turn my body to face him and I see he has stepped closer. I tilt my head to stare into his flaming, golden pools.

"Oh, really? Any other company would offer you shit, compared to mine." Deimos takes another step closer, and suddenly I can't breath. He is less than an arm's length away from me.

"Maybe if you actually showed up to the meeting, I could've decided that myself." I use all my effort to restrain my eyes from traveling to his lips. Then suddenly, I gasp as he slams his hands on either side of my head, caging me. He is fuming.

"Jesus fucking Christ, Aurora, will you shut up about the meeting?" I slap the emergency stop button on the elevator because somebody needs to teach this bastard a lesson.

"Do you have any respect for other people?" I say, tilting my chin up to let him see my rage. Nobody talks to me like that. My hand twitches at my side, eager to slap him.

"You really want to know why I didn't show up to the damn meeting?" He says, stepping away from me, and hitting the emergency button with unnecessary force, to start the elevator again. "I was too busy walking in on my best friend fucking my girlfriend." 

Deimos' words are so loud they bounce off the walls, and I can hear the venom laced through every syllable. I flinch at the mere extent of his anger, not knowing who it is directed at. The elevator dings, indicating we've reached the top floor. I suddenly notice how much of a mess he looks like, and I feel bad for how many times I've hammered him about the meeting; probably reminding him of what happened.

"Deimos-" I softly call out to him, wanting to apologize.

"Goodnight," he cuts me off and storms right out the elevator, to his door on the far side of the hall.