Heartache was a symphonious melody of what once was, dressed in glittery memories lined with salty tears and hidden in a cocoon of bated breaths that hitched upon the mountain of loss. In different ways each individual sat around the mahogany table had felt it, lived it, breathed it, but they all had been reborn from it with a sharper edge that put blades to shame.

First, there was Aditya, the oldest of the four. His sable, windswept hair often concealed his luminous lime eyes that held secrets he never wished to tell, tales of desperation dripped from his cherry lips only to drown in his darkening blood, yes he had lived to tell the tale, but if one thing was clear it was that he wished he hadn’t. His toned form spoke of years lifting weights that would never compare with those that sat on his shoulders ever since that fated day, the day he lost it all, the day he found it all too.

Opposite him sat a slightly younger woman, Zoya, who hid the bags beneath her eyes with foundation far too light in comparison with the dreadful reality of what she’d seen when young that left circles of mud clinging to thin skin below her irises, in the caramel curls that framed her face hid innocence that though tainted lingered around her like a soft-spoken fog, protecting her and ruining her soul all at once.

Beside her perched her younger sister Mishti with her legs crossed beneath her mustard t-shirt that draped her form with sunlight that only her smile could outshine, though she had witnessed evils unspoken, still she was resilient in her kindness, never one to allow the night to shade her light, she giggles, jokes and laughs because that is how she survives the woes of death that stole her childhood, her parents and made her older sister step up to the role that never should have been hers to embrace.

Lastly, directly before her with a grin that would put wide valleys to shame was Abir, through his friendship with the man in the neighbouring chair he’d found his family and vowed to never allow him to suffer a similar fate to those he labelled the same. Apart from the demons that return to curse him with unhappiness he keeps himself humorous and happy as that’s the only way he knows how.

Sliding four separate dossiers down the long length table, the older woman took a seat at the head of it and clicked her pen while brushing her fingers through white hair that signified the toll the job had taken on her. “Good morning” her voice rasped over them, leaving the biting scent of nicotine behind. “I am aware that you are all wondering why I have called you all here today, trust me if there was any other way I wouldn’t have, but this particular case requires four of the smartest, most able individuals to take it on” pressing a button to turn on the screen behind her, she spun on her chair and rose back onto her heeled stilettos. “Five years ago we got notice of a terrorist organisation that had been promising luxuries to the poorest of the poor to pull them in, they then proceeded to ready them for a battle of what can only be legally known as terrorism by brainwashing them into becoming enemies of the state”. Leila smacked her manicured hands on the table, beady eyes watching as none of them jumped “Desperation makes the poor steal to become the rich and it is that particular issue that has led to the majority of my agents either succumbing to what they’re selling or getting killed, so I require you to be at your best, professional and to remember the world that you have spent so long fighting for rather than being swayed by their promises that will and have led to more and more pain”.

Zoya scratched her nail against the letters of her new name “Excuse me” she turned her head, “It says here that I will take on the identity of Aisha, a young Muslim woman who has fallen in love with a man of Indian descent, um, Kabir?” Her frown was questioning, “I’m not comfortable with pretending to be in a relationship, is there no other way?”

“Unless you moonlight as a crossdresser, no” pinching the brim of her nose, she pointed across from her “Zoya, aka Aisha, meet Aditya, aka Kabir” stepping to the side, she rested her hands on the other man’s shoulders, “Abir aka Gautam meet Mishti, aka Khushi” flexing her hand, she moved around. “Zoya, this terrorist organisation is looking for those desperate enough to seek approval, a Muslim woman banished from her home due to loving an Indian man is exactly that and Mishti a doting best friend who followed her there so she wouldn’t be alone who also is fearful of admitting her feelings for an older man” she pointed at Abir, “Screams desperation, yes this is dangerous, yes you may run into people adamant on blowing your cover, when this happens interrogate and kill, this is not an optional job if you have any morals at all, we do not have the luxury of refusal at a time like this, so are we all in agreement?”

Mishti nodded, hand shooting out across the table “Hi, Abir, or should I say, Gautam” she winked, elbow nudging her older sister, “Oh, come on, at least they’re cute”.

Aditya raised his hand “Can’t I pretend to be in a relationship with that one instead?” His smirk curled, “She seems more fun”.

Chuckling behind his hand, Abir shook his head in dismissal “I’m in”.

Huffing, she peered at Mishti who looked like she’d fallen in love at first sight as she sighed over her hand while looking at her new fake boyfriend, “I’m in if Mishti is”.

“Great” Leila held open the door. “Now, we get to training, first comes the chemistry test”.

Frowning, the younger woman and her soon to be partner spoke at once “But I’m no good at chemistry” catching each other in the eye, they laughed.

“Not that kind of chemistry” she puffed out tiredly, “Chemistry as in the connection between you as couples, you have to be believable and you haven’t got long before you’re sent in, so, Abir and Mishti to the left and Aditya and Zoya to the right, there is an information file waiting for you both with instructions, the door will be locked until I am happy with progress” bringing a cigarette to her lips, she walked away and to the exit.

Aditya leant against the door “Hi, I’m Aditya, but I suppose you should call me Kabir” he held his hand out.

Holding the documents to her chest, she scowled down at his hand “I know” then she wandered past him and to the room.

“Ooh, feisty” he winked at his best friend, “I love the difficult ones”.

“That’s only because if they don’t challenge you, you get bored” he responded, then gestured to Mishti, “I like mine, she’s sweet, cute”.

“Ah yes, you get the angel and I get the devil, of course”.

“Hey” smacking his arm, her brows joined and her lips formed a pout “Don’t talk about my sister like that, she’d eat you for lunch”.

“And I’d have her for dessert” smiling slyly, he let himself in the other room leaving the other two to walk the other way.

Is it absolutely rubbish? You can tell me if it is, I wanted to challenge myself by writing a fic on 4 people/2 couples and of course bring together my 2 fav fandoms!