·:*¨༺ 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝟎𝟏 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 ༻¨*:·
𝐙𝐢𝐯𝐚 𝐱 𝐕𝐢𝐡𝐚𝐚𝐧 𝐊𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐨𝐫
A shadow in the night.
Ziva is a skilled assassin, tasked with a seemingly simple mission: protect the innocent heir of the powerful Kapoor...
All my friends are heathens, take it slow. Wait for them to ask you who you know. -Heathens by Twenty One Pilots.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The days that follow are a blur. Regret simmers beneath the surface, but I shove it aside. My team, however, has plenty to say.
"I can't believe you're actually doing this," Jason snaps one evening during our video call. The usual banter is absent, replaced by tension as we discuss Mr. Kapoor's deal.
"It's not like that," I argue, trying to stay calm. "This is about the SHED. You know that."
Jason's jaw tightens as he mutters, "There had to be another way."
"I made my choice," I reply, voice firm, though his words sting more than I'd like to admit.
Sid, ever the peacemaker, breaks the silence. "If anyone can pull this off, it's you, Z. I've got your back."
"Of course, you do," Jason retorts, his tone sharp. "You'd back her even if she decided to marry a shark."
"Jason," Sid growls, his voice hardening. "It's strategy."
Vikram, sitting silently in the corner of the screen, finally speaks. "Are you sure about this, Ziva? The marriage, the SHED...everything?"
I nod, even as unease coils in my chest. "Yes. I'm sure."
Stephanie, who's been unusually quiet, finally voices her concern. "Marriage isn't just a mission, Z. What if...what if it gets complicated? What if he expects more?" Her voice wavers, betraying the worry behind her words.
I sigh, leaning back in my chair. "It's not real, Steph. It's just a means to an end."
She doesn't look convinced, but she lets it drop for now. The tension in the call is palpable, hanging heavy over us like a storm cloud.
----------
Now, more than a week has passed since our meeting with Mr. Kapoor, and everyone seems to be coming around-reluctantly or otherwise. Jason, who was practically fuming before, has started to accept that this marriage is critical to the bigger picture.
Stephanie, on the other hand, had a miraculous change of heart after seeing a picture of my so-called future husband. Her concerns suddenly turned into musings about how "gorgeous" he is and how lucky I am, which I find equally amusing and annoying.
Sid, of course, never opposed my decision in the first place. He's always been my quiet supporter, reassuring me with that unshakable loyalty of his.
Vikram, though neutral on the surface, lets his concern slip through in subtle ways - like the noticeable uptick in his calls. He checks in so often now, it's starting to feel like he's keeping tabs on me, though I can't really blame him.
