◇●Shades Of Onyx & Ruby●◇

◇●The Trust Fall●◇

Leila had perhaps smoked a hundred cigarettes since last night as she worried about coming into close contact with the two male agents she fondly named the terror twins, it wasn’t that she hated them, it was that her onset of grey hair was because of them, it wasn’t that she disliked them, it was that her smoker’s cough and sore throat was due to their antics, all in all, she doted on them, they were a breath of fresh air, but she also wanted to kill them and upon retirement, she expected she’d do just that. Zoya and Mishti were lovely girls and if she’d had any other choice she wouldn’t have paired them together with two agents who were responsible for her long list of incident forms rather than her appraisals. “Today took its toll on all us females” she began, hoping the bags beneath her eyes weren’t as visible now she’d had eight cups of coffee, “But in this job, we will come across such things, but what we learn from that experience is most important, so now I hand it to you, we’ll go around the table and find out what you all have picked up” sitting back, she raised her mug to her lips.

“Abir often deflects using humour, jibes and sexual comments to undermine those he feels are easily scared, I believe this shows a history of never dealing with traumatic events properly which in turn leaves him haunted, he evades things he doesn’t like with quick wit rather than outright lies and is not opposed to creating an uncomfortable atmosphere for others which comes in handy during interrogation” Mishti eyed him proudly over her glass, her lips curled in haughty derision. She was glad it was his jaw that was now on the floor, he’d clearly thought he’d gotten to her, but what he didn’t know was that innocence she portrayed was her biggest weapon, people always fell for it and never expected much from her.

“Mishti” he licked his lip, part pleased and partly annoyed at her comments. “What can I say about a woman like Mishti? Hm,” he tapped his chin. “Let’s start on how easily distracted she is by the unexpected therefore making her an easily defeated opponent, then there is how quickly she breaks under pressure, she ran from the room and jumped away from me which hints towards a past of” he stopped at the tears in her eyes, but he wasn’t here to make friends, “A past of heartbreak that she has not and will not ever deal with, yet she is quick to point out other’s failures, I believe that is what they call checkmate” he rested back, his arms crossed as he focused on anything but the look on her face that was beginning to make his chest hurt.

Zoya placed her hand over hers, a reassuring smile taking over her lips before she turned to her partner “Aditya though able to see the humour in a situation also has a mature insight to life likely due to his personal experiences, like Abir he hides behind his quips and flirtatious behaviour and seems to enjoy angering others due to his unexplainable need to get a rise that likely makes him feel good about himself or” she watched him carefully, revenge like poison on her tongue as she spat: “He wants to hurt, so he allows other people to hurt him, if you want someone to throw themselves on the firing line to save you, he’s your man, not because he cares, but because death is something he craves” dropping the file as if dropping a mic, she crossed her ankles and raised a brow at the shock so clear on his face.

“Baby” he pouted, “You wound me so, but” he held his hands up, “That’s just what you do, right? Hurt people before they can hurt you first? No, no, I get it, people see you as a cold, hard woman who likely needs a good spanking, am I wrong?” Not allowing her to respond, he stood up “So you became the image people so desperately wanted you to be, that makes you a very good person when it comes to physical battles, we all know what that body can do, but if you weren’t so strung up you’d be easier to be around, when you want to release some of that pent up frustration, give me a-“ he was cut off by her hand swiping across his cheek, holding his face, he chuckled. “That leads me to my last point, you’re far too angry, couldn’t stay calm even if your life depended on it”.