The city sparkled under Devyn as he looked out the window-wall lining the west side of the living room in his penthouse. The human observed the new towers, display screens, and holograms implemented during the fifty years he was in a coma. The inner part of the city had spread, demolishing sections of smaller buildings to make way for sky-scraping towers and enlarging Daedoeshi's circle of skyreachers.

Miren had kept Devyn's home in excellent condition all the years he was missing. Nothing had changed; everything was kept the same as the home was cleaned daily. The human turned from the window to see the demon setting up shop on the couch. Letting out a small chuckle, Devyn walked over to the couch and snatched the pillow that Denzyl had just put down.

"What are you doing?" Devyn teased. Denzyl just sat on the couch and was looking up at Devyn with a confused expression. "There are plenty of rooms." The demon continued to sit in a state of perplexion. "I'm not a poor CEO." Devyn shook his head and gave a light chuckle at the demon as he walked off with Denzyl's pillow in hand.

"You can have any room you want," Devyn told Denzyl as he led him past the four bedrooms of the penthouse.

"Any room will suffice," Denzyl replied.

"That's not the answer I was looking for," Devyn squinted his eyes at Denzyl as he attempted to squeeze a response out of the demon.

A naughty expression entered the demon's face as he neared the human. "Then, what is the answer you were looking for, Mr. Vaumyr?"

Devyn felt his cheeks heat as the demon looked down at him with a glint in his eyes. "A-any answer," the human managed.

"Which one's yours?" Denzyl's voice was low as he looked at the human whose eyes were darted every which way under the demon's intense gaze.

"That one," Devyn gestured to the corner room at the end of the hall.

"I'll take the one next to it."

"O-okay," Devyn responded before turning and going to the room next to his. The human opened the door and placed the pillow on the bed next to the four already-existing pillows. "I'll have clothes and toiletries brought up. Let me know if you need anything else," Devyn said before leaving the demon to get adjusted.

The human went five strides down the hall and opened the door to his room. Once alone, Devyn flopped himself down on his bed and let out a breath. He was finally home. After fifty years, he had come back home.

A knocking on the door woke the exhausted human. Devyn lifted his head to find himself in the position he had taken when he flopped himself onto the bed. Devyn was completely unaware that he had fallen asleep. He had intended to rest for five minutes, but we all know how that goes.

It took a few seconds for the human to regain his bearings. "Who is it?" Devyn mumbled sleepily. Any regular person would not have been able to detect Devyn's babble, but Denzyl did.

The demon chuckled to himself before opening the door. "You hungry? You haven't eaten in a while."

Where have I heard that before? Devyn lifted his head, his eyes still squinted, and turned around to peer at the man standing in his doorway. "Denzyl? What time is it?"

"It's thirteen hundred."

"Thirteen hundred?!!" I slept for twelve hours?! Devyn sat up and looked around. The sun was high in the sky, and Denzyl appeared to be showered and ready for the day.

"Don't worry. Your duties don't begin until tomorrow," Denzyl assured the human, who nodded, his brown, fluffy hair sticking up in various directions. The demon hid a smile at the sight of the adorable human. Denzyl watched as Devyn blinked slowly and tried to adjust to the sun shining through the walls of glass surrounding his room on the north and west sides.

A rumble from Devyn's stomach brought the human out of his stunned daze. The smell of cooked food wafted into the room, increasing the human's hunger. Denzyl smiled softly at the still-tired human before restating his question, "You hungry?"

Devyn, who nodded in response, made his way off the bed and followed the demon down the hallway to the penthouse's kitchen and dining area which was connected to the living room. The human's eyes widened as he observed the array of food arranged beautifully on the table. There was a plater of steak, a tray of Chinese water spinach, mapo tofu, and a dish of dumplings. Devyn looked at the demon in shock as he stared at the water spinach as it was a rare vegetable.

"How did you get Chinese water spinach?" The human asked with awe.

"Miren said you like them," Denzyl responded, not wanting to give up his secret.

"Miren did?"

The demon nodded. "She gave me a guide on how to care for you." Denzyl's response drew a light chuckle out of the human.

"That's sweet of her, but I am a grown man."

"I don't think you will ever be fully grown to Miren," Denzyl commented as the two took their seats at the table. Denzyl set a scoop of dumplings onto Devyn's plate before adding a scoop of water spinach. Devyn smiled to himself as he placed a steak on his plate before helping himself to the mapo tofu.

"How are you with spice?" Devyn inquired of the demon as they began to eat.

The demon thought for a few moments before answering, "Expert."

Devyn raised his brows and teased, "Oh, really?"

"You doubt me?" Denzyl responded.

The human shook his head as he had just taken a bite out of a dumpling. "Wanna test it?" Devyn challenged once he had swallowed.

"Think you can beat me?" Denzyl set his utensils down and turned to face Devyn, who was sitting to his left.

"I'd like to try," Devyn smiled up at the demon.

A sly smirk came to Denzyl's lips as he answered, "Okay." The demon stood to his feet and walked into the kitchen, making his way to the cabinets. Opening the cabinet to the right of the cooking station, Denzyl extracted two slender cylinders filled with dark red pepper flakes. Setting one cylinder to the left of Devyn's plate, Denzyl returned to his seat and began sprinkling the pepper flakes over the serving of mapo tofu on his plate.

Devyn wasted no time in following the demon in covering his mapo tofu with the flakes. Once the two males had roughly the same amount of flakes on their food, they took the first bite. The human and demon ate a few bites before Devyn turned to Denzyl and suggested, "Add some more?"

Denzyl nodded silently before picking up the cylinder and sprinkling on another layer. Devyn's mouth began to heat up after taking two bites with the new layer of peppers. Denzyl appeared to remain unfazed as he continued to eat. The human's eyes widened to the size of saucers as the demon unscrewed the cap from the cylinder and poured half of the container onto his plate.

"Raising the bar?" Devyn asked as he copied the demon's action in unscrewing the lid.

"Will you be alright?" Denzyl asked, real concern painting his voice.

Devyn looked at the demon and thought before answering, "Will you give me CPR if I'm not?"

Denzyl raised his brows at the human as his eyes flicked down to Devyn's lips. Devyn felt his cheeks heating, and it wasn't from the spice, so before Denzyl could respond, the human took a huge bite of pepper-covered mapo tofu. Hoping the reaction to the heat would disguise his reddened face, Devyn chewed for a while before swallowing.

The human held in a cough as the demon looked at him in shock. Devyn's eyes began to water as he looked up at Denzyl. He had hit his limit.

Denzyl made sure Devyn was alright before coolly taking two more bites. While he was still eating the last bite, the demon stood up and poured a glass of milk for the human, who gladly drank it.

"You win," Devyn said after he had downed the glass of milk. "Ooohhhh, tonight is going to be rough. And I have work tomorrow. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea," the human said with an exasperated whine.

"You'll be fine in a couple of minutes," Denzyl reassured the fretting human.

"Hm?" It took a few moments for the human to think before the realization hit. "Ahh, I have your special juice."

The demon blinked his eyes in bewilderment. "Special juice?"

"Your essence," Devyn clarified. Denzyl nodded in understanding before eating a dumpling. Devyn ate his water spinach to cool down his mouth before moving on to the steak. "This is delicious!" The human praised the demon as he heartily ate another bite. The demon smiled to himself as he watched Devyn happily eat.

<<<<<<<>>>>>>>

If only every day could be like this. Devyn thought to himself as he lied next to Denzyl and let the night breeze wisp across his body. The two were spread out on the penthouse's roof, their arms under their heads as they had forgotten to bring pillows. Denzyl had his eyes closed; he was completely relaxed. Devyn had his eyes wide open and was looking up at the stars, losing himself in the vast darkness sprinkled with light.

The breeze chilled as the night progressed. Devyn now had his eyes closed as a shiver ran through his body. A hand taking his preluded warmth covering the human. Devyn smiled softly as Denzyl continued to hold his hand. Devyn's heart began to speed as Denzyl began stroking the back of his hand with his thumb. The human held his breath and turned his head to the side to look at the demon. Devyn's breath hitched as he saw those stormy eyes gazing at him softly.

The night breeze ruffled the demon's crimson hair as he made eye contact with the human. What do I do when you're looking at me like that? Guilt struck Devyn as he thought of all Denzyl had sacrificed to get him home safely. I don't deserve to be looked at like that. Stop shaking up my heart...please...Denzyl...

The demon saw the conflicting emotions in Devyn's eyes and kept eye contact with the human. Denzyl did not know what Devyn was struggling with, but he hoped to convey his support and longing to stay by the human's side through his gaze, so he continued to look at Devyn deeply.

Devyn could not bring himself to look away. Denzyl was gazing at him so passionately, and yet, so softly. It felt as if the demon was looking into his soul. Denzyl's gaze drew the human in until he was lost in those stormy orbs. The human and demon lied on the roof as two mirrors both in position and passion, reflecting their emotions and longings as the night reached its peak.