TWIST OF THE HEART

The sun was beginning to lower in the late afternoon sky making Nikita realize her relaxing day was quickly drawing to a close and soon she would return to the dark world she was forced to live in called Section One. What was worse, she would be forced to face Michael for the first time since the end of the mission. Pulling her keys from her pocket, she jangled them in her hand as she made her way back to her parked car.

Michael sat at his desk, staring sightlessly at the screen in front him. The glow from the screen made his skin look paler then it really was and in turn, drew out the dramatic color of his eyes. Crossing his boots under the chair in a vain attempt to get more comfortable, he furrowed his eyebrows at the approaching headache he knew was coming. Filled with self loathing at the memory of her face in Madeline’s office flooding his mind made him sit back in his chair and let out a long soft audible sigh. Being Michael Samuelle was not a pleasant thing in his mind right now and he wished for a miracle. He wished he were anyone but himself. A slow faint trace of a smile crossed his handsome features at the childish thought and returned his attention to the endless Intel before him.

Just outside his door, she stood almost nervously, still silently cursing Birkoff for making her take these panels to him. He knew they were not speaking but it seemed to not matter much to him as he made a face at her, his hand holding out the panels refusing to take no for an answer.

Finally in frustration, nikita had grabbed them from his hand when she saw Madeline and Operations standing in the perch, observing them. Nikita refused to allow them to know how uncomfortable she was still feeling. Rapping her knuckle on the door, she pushed it open not waiting for a response.

Michael looked up from his screen and the barest trace of relief at the sight of her crossed his eyes. Recovering just as quickly, he watched her silently as she approached his desk, noticing how she was careful to avoid eye contact with him.

Intel Birkoff wanted you to have. Nikita mumbled placing them on the edge and pushing them towards him.

Thank you. His politeness made her look at him, momentarily surprised by his uncharacteristic response. It was then she saw them. Eyes that regarded her with such intensity, she felt as if he were piercing into her brain. It was all quite unnerving, making her swallow at the sight. Standing back upright, she cleared her throat, hand tucking her loose hair behind an ear. An odd silence grew between them making Nikita feel all the more uncomfortable. Making up her mind to leave, she turned on her heel heading for the door when once again, his voice stopped her.

Can we talk?

With a hand resting on the door handle, she paused, her head turned slightly as she looked down at the floor to her feet, trying to decide if she really wanted to or not. It wasn’t often he reached out to her and inside, she knew it was hard for him. To refuse him might be what she wanted but in the end,,, definitely the wrong thing to do. Lifting her chin, she turned, leaning heavily on the door and waited for him to continue.

Michael pulled out the small panel from under his desk and punched in his personal code activating the dampening field for instant privacy. Folding his hands on his lap, he looked at her briefly before speaking. It was almost as if he were uncomfortable and not sure of how to begin. Another odd thing for Michael to reveal so blatantly. She thought.

I tried to see you this week. You didn’t answer your door. He began, his features partially shaded in the dim light of the room.

Yes, I know you did. She answered curtly folding her arms across her chest, returning his stare with one of her own.

He looked out the window of the office for a moment and brought his gaze back to her, absorbing the horrible truth he had feared. She really didn’t want to see him and had made a point of avoiding him. Oddly, this fact hurt him deeply leaving him surprised at just how close he had allowed her into his world.

You seem surprised by that Michael. She added when he paused longer then normal.

He inclined his head in agreement. Yes. I suppose I am.

Nikita sighed, rolling her eyes as she shook her head at his admission. God Michael… you know there was a time I would have let you rip my heart out, and eat it front of me and I would have loved you regardless…. Forgive you even as you swallowed it but now,,, now I am harder,, wiser and I cant let you do this to me anymore. Nikita swung her one hand about as she spoke; now pacing back and forth in the room, the only sound other then her angry voice was the clacking of her heels on the cold floor.

Michael again nodded yet remained calm, ever silent as he digested what she had to say. He knew what she said was the truth yet he wasn’t sure of how to make her understand his love for her outweighed anything he was forced to perform within Section.

Nikita pulled out the small chair from the other side of his desk and rolled it back, seating herself down on it heavily, her blue eyes every so often glanced over at him.

Nothing I do in here is to you Nikita. He said in his hushed voice, emphasizing the word to.

Nikita nodded, growing impatient, her hand waved at him briefly as she swung around in slow circles, trying to expend her nervous energy. I have heard this before,,,, got anything new and original I might believe Michael? She knew she was becoming almost petulant sounding but couldn’t help the growing annoyance.

Michael heard it too and as usual, maintained his level of utter calm and control. He was determined to fix this for he knew if he didn’t, he was as good as dead without her.

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