Bheem coyly looks at Ram from the service platform as Ram makes tea for the two of them. Ram raises an eyebrow at him.
"How do you look so beautiful even in your pajamas?" Bheem asks with a grin, eyes almost disappearing under his crowfeet.
Ram laughs. "The same way you manage to look gorgeous without anything to wear."
Bheem blushes a deep red and doesn't look up from his lap until Ram is pressing the teacup into his hands. Their height difference is noticeable now, since Bheem is sitting on the elevated platform. He takes the teacup from Ram and as the tea warms his hand indirectly, he ignores his burning cheeks and presses a kiss to Ram's forehead.
The smile doesn't leave Ram's face until after he reaches the office.
____________________________________________________
In another universe, Ram probably wasn't as daring as this. In another world, maybe he didn't develope a way to understand and show emotions clearly due to his horrid childhood.
In another universe, maybe Ram didn't proudly proclaim to love Bheem and actually show it, in his own twisted way.
But in this one? Ram knows he loves Bheem. Ram knows that he will burn the world for Bheem.
So, it isn't a surprise, at least for him, when he actually does burn something for his beloved.
____________________________________________________
Anderson, the Officer who had hit Bheem with the whip, conviently had the plans for the new Jail in Banaras, according to Ram's source.
Bheem is wary about Ram going anywhere near the man, knowing his sadistic streak from the way there are still unhealed scars running across Bheem's torso from the spiked whip.
But he trusts Ram sadistic streak more.
"Ram," Bheem says as he drops Ram to the predecided spot near Anderson's house,"I'm telling you, Jaanam, you won't be able to restrain yourself. Let me."
Because Bheem knows. He knows Ram has fury that burns and scalds more than the heat of the Sun and he knows Ram can either be the reason for life or force death.
And yet, for Bheem, Ram is still a star. Brightest and the most important star in the sky. The one that leaves darkness and void in its wake.
Ram shakes his head as he discreetly checks his pockets for the guns, the bullets and puts on his custom made brass knuckles. He smiles and says in the same tone,"Bheem, let me do this. You look for the truck of the weapons, okay?"
Bheem knows it's not only because of his expertise and experience in handling vehicles that Ram has persuaded him into going after the weapon truck. Ram doesn't try to hide it, his need for revenge against people who wrong anything and anyone he cares about.
("I take care of what's mine." Bheem remembers Ram saying after dressing up his wounds, his hands covered in Bheem's blood, his own blood and the blood of the guards who had tried to dissuade Ram from saving his Bheem.)
Bheem reluctantly nods. He cups Ram's face, thumbs his stubble gently and kisses his forehead. "Return to me." Bheem whispers because that's all he wants. That's where Ram belongs, with Bheem.
Ram nods and presses a teasing kiss on the side of Bheem's mouth,"Come back for me."
And they both know Bheem will.
No matter what world, what life and what time, Bheem will always come back for his Ram.
____________________________________________________
Ram smirks as he strolls in the empty hallway. He isn't worried about getting caught, on contrary, he wants to be caught.
Bheem—Mahadev bless him— doesn't know this part of the plan, trusts Ram's word enough to not question him.
Ram peeks in the window of a near room, it turns out to be a store room. He continues down the path for three more rooms before he finds Anderson's study.
Ram fervently prays to Mahadev as he tries to open the study, knowing Anderson is just the arrogant and disorganised type to not look after office work when at home. His prayers work, the door is unlocked. Honestly, Ram thinks, a Special Officer would have sense to lock his study. Well, it works in their favour so Ram isn't complaining.
He looks around the dingy room, in tasteless brown shades that make everything look darker and more sinister. There are no bookshelves or books, but paintings of Anderson and his son adorning the walls. Ram quickly walks across the room and starts to search the table and thankfully, the blueprints are in the first drawer.
How mundane, Ram thinks with a chuckle.
He carefully folds them all and puts them in his hidden pocket in the shirt and starts searching again, this time for weapons. He finds a Colt Police Positive and pockets it.
"Time for some amusement." Ram grins to himself and saunters away, to the direction of the farthest room.
____________________________________________________
Anderson isn't the world's most paranoid person, but he certainly seems like the most arrogant one.
Exactly according to Ram's plan, he got ambushed and is currently standing at the courtyard of Anderson's house, three guns from different directions aimed at his chest while Anderson prowls.
Ram scoffs silently to himself, Anderson used to be his colleague, he should know better than to even think three men can stop the sheer magnitude of Ram's chaos.
"You!" Anderson spits,"thought you could steal my gun and ammunition, didn't you? Not so clever, you bastard, you got captured."
Ram discreetly rolls his eyes and waits.
____________________________________________________
In his defence, Ram doesn't expect the British to use daggers. He does expect them to hit him when his back is turned, though.
As the blood seeps down his back, he swings one last time at the bloodied form of Anderson, fresh blood clinging to his elbow and knuckles.
Anderson spits something particularly vicious, surely about Ram's race and Indians before he slumps and his body starts to relax. "You all are as much a threat as a tree is to a storm." He says,"We will ruin you. You'll be in jail before the day ends!"
Ram laughs, finding his claim ridiculous and delusional. "Anderson," he leans down to whisper,"one tree may be weak in front of a Strom but that one tree might also be the reason the storm will never happen. And, trees connected firmly to their soil never lose."
He watches with satisfaction as Anderson chokes, his own blood flowing out of his mouth as the last of his breath leaves.
Ram waits a moment more, listening quietly as he judges if there is anyone alive in the house, other than him.
Of course, there were none.
He smiles to himself pleasantly. Anderson down, Robert and Scott to go.
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