There was knock on the door.
"Coming!" A male voice said. There was shuffling and the door opened. A brown shaggy hair guy opened the door. He smiled mischievously. Mylène stood at the door with a backpack full of clothes and toiletries.
"Well hell~o! What can I do for you cutie?" The guy asked.
"Is Ivan home?" Mylène asked. The guy smirked.
"Hey Ivan! There's someone to see you!" He shouted over his shoulder.
"Who is it?" Ivan's voice boomed.
"I don't know, but she's pretty cute!" The shaggy guy said. Mylène heard shuffling and then footsteps. Mylène saw Ivan turn the corner and Ivan saw Mylène. His eyes grew and he walked a little quicker. He pushed the other guy out of the way. The other guy snickered.
"H-hey! Sorry about that. Um what can I do for you?" Ivan asked. Mylène shift from one foot to the other.
"I uh...I need a place to stay. My apartment is under quarantine due to a mold. I asked everyone else and they didn't have the room. So I uh...came to you. But I see you have no room so I'll be go-".
"No!" Ivan said quickly. Mylène looked at him and he flushed lightly. "I uh... I mean, the guest room is open." Ivan said.
"But what about your friend?" Mylène asked. Ivan looked her confused.
"Oh! David just came over to grab his guitar. He lives on his own." Ivan said.
"Oh." Was all Mylène said.
"Please! Come in!" Ivan said as he grabbed Myléne's backpack.
"Oh! You don't have to do that!" Mylène said as she reached for her bag. Ivan smiled and shook his head.
"Not a problem Mylène! Please, come on in and make yourself at home." Ivan said as he moved out of the way. Mylène stepped inside and smiled. It was very spacious and very clean. The walls were painted a nice wine red with a white trim. "Its not much but it's home." Ivan said.
Ivan smiled and he walked over to the staircase. "Bathroom is down the hall on the right." Ivan said. He stopped at a door and opened it. "This is your room. I-I hope it fits your standards." Ivan stuttered. Mylène walked inside and smiled. There was a bed, neatly made with maroon sheets. A small glass chandelier hung from the ceiling, diffusing the lamplight and throwing small rainbows around the top of the room.
"Um, I'm afraid it's been a while since anyone used it last," Ivan said as he scratched the back of his neck.
"It's beautiful. Thank you." Mylène said
"My room is right across the hall. You're welcome to any of the books on the shelves. Would you like dinner at about...seven?".
"That would be fine, Ivan, thank you." Mylène smiled. "And...thank you for this, too. It really is awfully kind of you.".
He smiled nervously. "Well, I thought...I mean, you need to stay somewhere while your apartment is not safe. And this is convenient then a hotel aside from anything else." Ivan said.
"It's the 'anything else' that I'm most grateful for right now." She stood up and took his hand. Ivan's smile relaxed at the touch.
"Well...I suppose that makes two of us. Would you like some time to unpack?" He asked.
"Just a few minutes, yes. I don't have much." Mylène admitted as she looked at the backpack.
"Please take your time. I want you to be at home here." Ivan paused, considered the sentence, and finished in a rush. "By which I mean I hope you feel comfortable here. As a guest."
Mylène smiled as she unzipped her bag. "I already do, Ivan. And I understood you the first time."
He smiled with relief and left, closing the door carefully. Mylène heard his footsteps receding down the hall and straightened her back, looking around the room. She crossed to the window and opened the curtains. The light of Paris fell on her, so golden and brilliant against the night sky that it almost turned the black into a deep shade of blue. The glow of the city made Mylène sigh softly. Soon a smell of food wafted through the air. Mylène slowly walked downstairs and into the kitchen. Ivan was cooking something and it smelt delicious. Ivan must of heard her coming.
"Take a seat, I'll be done soon enough," he called over and Mylène took a seat at the dining table, taking in every little detail of the combined dining room and living room area. It was homely but simple.
"I didn't know you could cook," the small woman watched him with a honest curiosity.
"It's one of my hobbies," Ivan replied with a slight smile as he brought two plates with steak, steamed asparagus, and mashed potatoes. Ivan gave Mylène hers first before sitting down to join her. For a moment or two there was mostly silence, broken only by the squeak of metal on china as they both focused on eating between sips but it was a comfortable atmosphere. Ivan cleared the table and did the dishes when they had finally finished, Mylène decided to explore slightly, moving around the living room and picked up a photo of two men. It was Ivan and three other guys infront of a hummer somewhefe in the Middle East.
"Ah! Pakistan! I had fun over there." Her host spoke from behind her, his expression looking like he was remembering happier times.
"What happened?" The question slipped out before she could stop it. Ivan looked at the photo and his eyes grew sad. He took a deep breath and walked over to the couch. He sat down and Mylène walked over to him. She sat next to him.
"We were evacuating a small village when a small group of bounty hunters started firing. Tomas died on impact of a bullet. Me and two others were taken captive. We were tortured and beaten. Ramirez, he was the smallest of us and his body couldn't handle such torture. He died two days after we were caught. Toni and I were released a week later. Toni is now blind in his right eye and has PTSD. I have scars and memories. But two great men died...and I couldn't save them." Ivan said quietly. Mylène didn't say a word as she replaced the photo, then moved to lightly rest a hand against his cheek, watching him lean into it. Sometimes at times like this, words were hollow and apologies meant nothing. She knew that from personal experience.
"Thanks for listening." Ivan nodded, watching her with a small, weak smile. Ivan cleared his throat and stood up. "You must be tired!" He said. He walked Mylène to her room and Mylène faced him.
"Thank you for all of this," she said quietly. "Letting me stay here. It really is very kind of you."
"You needed somewhere to stay," said Ivan. "And this way you don't have to spend any money...and I certainly have enough room here...and I didn't really like the idea of you being alone when Hawk Moth is still not captured.".
Mylène smiled. "I wouldn't have wanted to be. But I mean even as a gesture of friendship...your offer was extraordinarily kind."
"No...it really wasn't." Ivan smiled at her. "Especially not for someone who happens to be an old friend." Ivan said. Mylène let a soft grin form.
"Goodnight Ivan." She said softly.
"Sweet dreams Mylène." Ivan said gently. Mylene grew a very light pink and walked into the room. Ivan shut the door softly and walked to his room. Both changed into their nightware and climbed into their bed. Both slowly fell asleep as the city of lights came to life.