(Untitled)

[_java_]

When Java had selected her own apartment, she had made certain of three things: 1) It was reasonably clean, considering, 2) Its location was unknown to anyone but herself, and 3) It was very, very close to Ram's. He might not want her around, but Java had been all too aware that her husband might not fare too well without his bodyguard nearby,

Comments

[_java_]

And that was all it took. Java's smile quivered for just a moment as the words left Ram's lips, her hands safe and warm in his, and then she'd pulled her hands free and was wrapping her arms around him, no longer giving a damn about propriety or keeping her distance. He'd said he loved her, finally, and it had sounded sincere; even if this was all just a headtrip Line had arranged for her, it was too much for Java to hold out against. How long had she prayed to hear those words from Ram? And how certain had she become, during that week in the basement, that she would never hear them from anyone again? Java pulled Ram tightly against her, the only recently-halted tears threatening to make a reappearance, and buried her face in his neck, her body pressed safely up against his. He felt so warm and strong against her, and smelled so familiar and comforting, that Java knew there was no fighting it; before her mind could overrule her heart, she was telling him her own truth as well, in a voice that could leave no doubts as to her sincerity. "I love you, too, Ram... Lord Ram.." Her fingers tightened against his shoulder, hugging him as though it could somehow make up for all of the embraces they'd been denied, as if it could somehow protect both of them from everything outside the bedroom walls, and Java stopped ordering herself not to cry.

[virtual_ram]

Ram wrapped his arms around his wife tightly. Even though he didn't care to admit it, this was the first time he had hugged anyone since the virus. The last people had been his parents.
She had been gone for so long, even if it was just a week.It had really driven him crazy. But in an odd way, he was extremely grateful for her absence. Without it, he wasn't sure if he would have noticed how much he cared for her. She was truly the only thing he had left in this world. She was everything good. Maybe not in the common sense, but her intentions were always practical. She always tried to protect him and do what was right for him. Sometimes it didn't always work, but the effort and thought was there.
He cringed silently when she called him "Lord Ram". That was another thing that'd have to change. Along with starting to treat her as an equal, she'd have to start acting like one.
I'll correct it later. He thought. I don't want to ruin it. He knew how Java could be, and telling her that he didn't want her calling him that anymore would surely ruin it.
Time seemed to stopped. He wanted to stay like this forever, but he pulled away gently.
"I should email Salene and Siva and tell them that you're back and safe." He explained softly.

[_java_]

Java nodded slightly, looking away and wiping away a pair of tears with the tip of her little finger as the moment passed. Ram's voice was so gentle that it took a moment for the words to register, which somehow made the impact all the more jarring when their meaning hit her. Email Salene and Siva and tell them I'm safe? Java's eyes narrowed suspiciously as she looked back at her husband, her body instinctively pulling back a bit from him as her expression darkened. "You should -what-?" She hadn't known that Siva was still in contact with Ram, and she -certainly- hadn't known that Salene was; while Java could almost understand keeping her sister in the loop, she had no idea whatsoever why Ram would have kept the City Leader informed of her whereabouts. And if Salene and Siva knew that she'd been missing, then so would the Mallrats, and, with them, Ebony. That girl had a natural talent for finding out information she shouldn't have, Java thought; if she went asking questions about the last week... Java shook her head slightly, her eyes sparkling with anger and a trace of fear. "Don't tell me you told the virts I was gone, Ram..."

[virtual_ram]

"I had to tell them." He said a bit harsher and louder than intended. "I wanted you found as soon as possible." Ram got up off the bed coldly. "You think that week was easy for me? I spent the whole week constantly worrying, looking out that window, wondering if you were ever going to come back;" He pointed to the window emphasis, "Not knowing where you were or even who you were with." He ended heartlessly, letting her think whatever she wanted about what he was implying.
He looked at her. He realized his tone and what he had said. He looked down almost immediately in shame. "I'm sorry." He appologized in a quiet whisper. His backlashes were still a habit he had to break, he guessed.
Ram sighed and tried to calm himself down. "So, I got up early this morning and went to the mall. The only person concerned enough to want to go out looking for you and make sure you were safe was Siva, bless her." He softened up. He put his hands on her shoulders and knealt down in front of her so his. eyes were level with her, in hopes of pacifying her. "It was only for your well-being, as side from the fact that I was worried out of my mind and desperate for help..."

[_java_]

Increasingly angry and all too familiar with Ram's explosive temper, Java didn't bat an eye at her husband's outburst, glaring up at him as he explained why he had chosen to involve the virts in what should have been a private matter. Her expression remained cold and unyielding as Ram lowered his gaze and apologized; the return to their old habits had temporarily reinforced her former strength, and Java found that the words that had seemed so touching a few minutes ago could no longer cut through her anger. She watched in silence as Ram tried to calm himself down ("Temper, temper, Java..."), but there was simply no quelling her after he spoke again. It was bad enough that he'd put her situation with Mega at risk, bad enough that there were virts out there with far too much information, but now Ram had put -himself- in harm's way as well? Java's eyes glittered furiously as she began to lose her own temper, holding her husband's gaze with a glare that challenged him to look away from her again. "You -physically- went to the -Mall-?" she demanded, her voice slowly gaining power as she leaned forward, her face mere inches from his. She spoke slowly, angrily; it was insanity, and she -had- to make him understand. "Ram, sweetie," she began, trying desperately to keep herself under control, "they're virts, and they -hate- you. I'm sorry I worried you, I really am, but-- but they're virts, Lord Ram; you know as well as I do that they're dangerous! If they'd gotten you cornered in there..." Java's voice faltered slightly; if anything had happened to him on account of her... Her eyes searched his, anger at his foolishness and her own absence mixing with deep-rooted fears of what the city (and especially the Mallrats) would do to the both of them if given half the chance. "Baby, I've only just now gotten you back," she said, her defenses beginning to crumble again as the knowledge that she could have easily cost him his life began to sink in. I have failed him... "I couldn't stand it if I lost you to a pack of Rats."

[virtual_ram]

Ram scowled, similar to a child after being scolded by its mother. Did she think he was deaf and blind? He knew the city hated him. Anti-Techno propaganda was everywhere in the city, and according to them, Ram was the personification of Techno.
Did she think he was completely ignorant of the Mallrats reactions when he arrived? The way Salene gave him a no, but Siva persuaded her to a weak yes? He knew. He also knew the Mllrats were just, though. There's no way Salene would have let the Mallrats kill him right there. No, she take him to a cell and make him sit in jail until a trial, then she would let them kill him.
Ram got up from the floor. He wanted so much just to dismiss Java and tell her to get out. People don't work like that. He reminded himself.
He sighed. "Look, Javie, I know what they could've done to me, but I was willing to take that risk as long as you were safe." Ram sat back down beside her. "Besides, they have no idea where we're at. And they are virts, afterall, so I doubt they'll find out."