My Neighbor's Dirty Secret

Rhea practically ran as fast as she could out that door and grabbed Damien by the neck as if she were giving him a wrestling choke hold. Her face must have looked like the hulk from the famous Marvel Universe. She hissed at Aziel like some wild animal as his seemingly kind blue eyes turned to ones of startling realization at the two. He must have put the puzzle pieces together.

"Go away," she turned down to Damien to warn, "Don't talk to strangers. Especially not this guy. He's a complete weirdo."

To be perfectly honest, she didn't want this evil man to taint her dearest little Damien with unholy thoughts that kept her insane and awake most nights. Of course, save for the fact that her soundproof headphones helped her to go on with life.

"...B-But, we're not strangers. We're neighbors," Aziel dared to point out like a disappointed child.

"...Ugh...You're hurting me Rhea..."

Her hold on him loosened. "Sorry Damien. Are you okay?"

"I'm okay but you know...these trash bags are really heavy."

For the first time, she began to see a version of Aziel that surprised her. He grew startlingly serious while walking over to them again. Despite her protests, he leaned down to gather the trash bag into his arms. Rhea couldn't help but notice the outlines of his muscular arms flexing from carrying the bags. She had to turn away and focus on a dark spot on the wall.

"No!" she shouted so loud it even startled Aziel himself and then she coughed. "It's the opposite, Damien."

"...Listen here woman, just consider me helping the kid out. I mean, come on, you expect him to carry these down by himself?"

As much as she didn't like people in general, Aziel had a point. She glanced at the large black trash bags. The trash bags were twice as heavy than Damien's own weight. Suddenly, she felt like she was the bad guy here. Both looked at her as such.

She yelped out a disgusting sound almost between a hiss and a roar. "Fine. Don't think I owe you for anything!"

Aziel's frustratingly threw his hands up in the air. "Why would I impose on you like that? I am a kind and generous neighbor that has been nothing but cordial to you! Ugh as much as I try to convince Zeven, there's no reasoning with you..."

"Kind? But you and that wretched brother of yours..." her voice trailed off as she remembered Damien's innocent self was still there between them as they were bickering. "Your behaviors lead me to assume the worst in you."

Instead of taking the trash bags and leaving her be, he stepped forward. This time, she knew he was angry because his face was warped to emotions that made her take a step back.

Aziel made sure that they were in such close proximity, all she could think about was that stolen kiss. The feel of his soft lips against hers, made her shiver because she never been that close to someone else. She had no experience in the romance department and liked to keep it that way.

He spoke to interrupt her thoughts, "Is this how you want to live your whole life? Judging others based on their kinks and hobbies? Just because the stuff we do isn't exactly accepted by the masses of society, doesn't mean we're bad people. And hey, most of the time the ones repulsed at things like this are the ones who d.e.s.i.r.e them the most...Like you. Is that what this is?"

"Never!" she shouted, hissing at him through gritted teeth.

"I wouldn't want a feisty and unwilling creature anyway."

He took a step forward, knowing he had the upper hand after dealing a nasty blow. And so she took a step backward. Aziel satisfyingly grinned and grabbed hold of the trash bags she was blocking. Damien trailed along after her s.e.x crazed neighbor, ignoring her shouts about him staying safe from the outside world and most of all, Aziel himself.

Rhea ran back to her apartment and looked around.

The trash might have been gone but as she glanced at her hands and her entire being, she really did feel horrible. Feel so powerless over her stupid fear. As if she were the worst trash around who really did assume the worst in others and couldn't even help Damien carry down her own chores.