[center][img]https://i.postimg.cc/fWpmWD76/ba126c5312a21eb9b6823aa5d6245506.png[/img] [h3]&[/h3][/center] [center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/180729/2fbb5311a75998e59e501513aa9e6c2c.png[/img][/center] [center][h2][u]Ashkevron Residence in Askavi[/u][/h2][/center] [hr] [sup][@LadyRunic][@13org][/sup] [hr] From the kitchen, she heard the knock and paused her cooking. Who would be here so early in the morning? Fatima waited a few moments to see if anyone else would get the door. Was she allowed to do such a thing? Hesitantly she wiped her hands on an apron she had found in the kitchen and approached the door. Another knock made her jump but she had to remind herself she was safe here. No harm would come to her. The tiny Queen let out a slow breath from her mouth, gripped the doorknob and opened to find a pale hooded man standing before her. There was that feeling that rolled inside of her once again. It told her all she really needed to know about the man. [h3]MINE[/h3] [b]"Welcome home,"[/b] she said with her most charming smile. Mikhail couldn't help but be surprised after seeing the dark skinned woman opening the door. She was completely different from the rumors he heard about the 'infamous' black widow. Her warm and charming smile and even her words had a calming tone and even the woman herself had a beautiful appearance, something that inspired trust, something that would disarm most men or even make them fall for her... But not Mikhail. [color=6ecff6]"I am really grateful by the warm welcome, but I'm afraid I won't really stay for too long."[/color] Mikhail said taking off his hood to show a warm but exhausted smile. [color=6ecff6]"Besides, I don't really have a place I can call home. Never had."[/color] he said, looking to the woman as his eyes briefly became cold and piercing as he said the last two words, before going back to the usual kind, exhausted stare that matched his smile, almost as if that was a warning to keep her distance, emotionally speaking. Due to the lack of sleep caused by the nightmares, both sides of his personality were starting to overlap one another and he could feel his sanity slowly fading away. He knew very well that he wasn't in his best shape. It was getting harder and harder to make rational decisions and it was taking him a good deal of effort to keep his tired mind and body to simply surrendering themselves to that woman and her warm words. Surrendering his mind and body to that woman meant he would be [i]vulnerable[/i] and Mikhail knew more than anyone else that a single moment of carelessness could be a grave mistake. [color=6ecff6]"I'm sorry for coming so early, but I was told I could find the Black Widow here..."[/color] Mikhail said, still in doubt if that woman was really the same from the rumors he heard. Her smile fell and sadness crept into her features. had she been wrong about this feeling? No, she wasn't. So why didn't he want to stay? Really, this was a thought for another time. [b]"Well, at least make your short stay a pleasant one then." [/b] The sadness she felt at knowing that one of her men was going to leave her was tucked away and the welcoming air she had originally portrayed came back. [b]"Why don't you follow me. We'll get you something to eat. I'm afraid most of the household is asleep and won't be able to be of any help."[/b] Fatima wondered just how much trouble she was going to be in for letting this complete stranger into Faeril's house. She would just have to explain the situation as there was nothing for it. Once the man entered the house she led the way to the warm kitchen and got him a large plate of bacon, eggs, and pancakes. [b] "How do you take your coffee?"[/b] she inquired, turning with the warm mug in hand. [b]"Sit, sit. Make yourself comfortable."[/b] She busied herself with the food and the coffee, ensuring there were enough plates for everyone. Covering them with metal bowls she placed simple warming spells to keep them for when the others came down. Finally, she allowed herself to settle with her own large plate of food and sipped her third cup of coffee with great relish, making a soft mmmm-ing sound of her delight. Seeing the woman's smile immediately give place to a sad expression made Mikhail feel a bit guilty. As much as he searched, he couldn't find an ounce of malice on that woman's expression. Was he being a bit too paranoid? By the looks of it, she was just a normal woman, he shouldn't' be so worried. After all, it was impossible for him to have drawn attention to himself, other than the fact that he was a Dea Al Mon, of course. He was always incredibly careful regarding the contracts he took and regarding his clients. Just as he was about to open his mouth again, the sad expression on the woman's face was replaced by the same welcoming air she had previously as she invited him to get in. Once again, he could see no signs of anything being wrong. Hopefully, he was finally going to be freed from so many fragmented memories and nightmares from a life that wasn't his anymore, whether he wanted or not, he would have to trust the Black Widow. He had no choice but to let her see his memories if he wanted to be helped. As he followed the woman inside, it became apparent that indeed most of the people inside were asleep. One more reason for him to stop being so paranoid. They wouldn't let him get in if they knew who he was and were after him. Maybe it was ok to be careless for now... Mikhail mentally cursed himself by making that decision as he sat down after the woman offered him a seat and some coffee. He could only hope that his intuition was right about that woman and the people inside that house. [color=6ecff6]"I'm... Terribly sorry for my rudeness just now."[/color] Mikhail said with a slight bow. [color=6ecff6]"Strong, please..."[/color] he said, referring to the coffee. It wasn't exactly the way he enjoyed, but he really needed something to keep his mind working. [color=6ecff6]"It's been a... long time since I had a decent night of sleep or even some time to rest my mind at all, so I'm just a bit on edge."[/color] Mikhail said, apologizing himself once more as he looked to the woman. The smile he had before was nowhere to be seen, his expression now showed only exhaustion. [color=6ecff6]"Or that is what I would like to say..."[/color] he said, with a chuckle. Something in his expression made it clear that the situation was much worse than what he was showing, despite him not telling her exactly what was wrong with him. Crossing her legs, she watched him with a worried expression. He was obviously not feeling too well. Hopefully, the food might perk him up a bit. A good meal could fix quite a few things. Not this, the Darkness knew, but perhaps just a balm on an open sore. [b] "No need to apologize.[/b]" She swept the words away with a slender and fluid hand. [b]"Everyone can be a bit of a bear without enough sleep." [/b] She wondered just how much of a bear Faeril would be and felt a pang of worry in her stomach. If she were in a bad mood that would not help matters with the stranger. She hoped Lucivar would come to breakfast soon. [b]"You are here now, safe amongst friends. Relax, eat something. I promise I didn't poison it,"[/b] she said playfully. She sipped her coffee and again and her eyes sparkled with good-natured mischief. She took her own fork in hand then and daintily ate, good manners knocked into her from a young age. [b]"I am called Fatima. You?"[/b] The coffee was indeed helping Mikhail to clear his thoughts, even if it was only a little bit. By the silence on the house, it appeared he would have to wait a bit until the 'others', as the woman mentioned, wake up. He still didn't know who exactly were these 'others' and he would definitely have to be careful. He wasn't worried with the woman in front of him, but the others were a different story. By now, he was mostly convinced that she wasn't the black widow, solely judging by the rumors and how others said the black widow was. That woman couldn't be the one from the rumors. [color=6ecff6]"Safe amongst friends..."[/color] Mikhail mumbled, mostly to himself than for the woman as he drank a bit more from the cup of coffee in front of him. Those words... it's been a long time since he heard those words being said in such a honest manner. Old habits die hard and for Mikhail, those two words were nothing but sweet lies. [color=6ecff6]"Mikhail. Once again, I'm grateful for the hospitality."[/color] he said, with a slight bow towards the woman. [color=6ecff6]"I'm sorry if I sound rude, but you're not the Black Widow from the rumors, am I right?"[/color] he asked, looking to the woman, carefully analyzing her reactions.