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[_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,

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[virtual_ram]

Ram grabbed the key from ontop the doorsill and unlocked his door. Ram shut the door behind him and didn't bother locking it again. I've won. He kept thinking over and over again. He'd gotten the Mallrats to agree to go out and look for Java. He had nothing to do with convincing him, which dampered his thoughts a bit. It ws all Siva and Amber, Jay, and Ebony's noncompliance with Salene.
Ram straightened a stack of a few books sitting on a low coffee table. He wasn't sure why he had kept the coffee table. It was worn and beat up, but it reminded of one his parents had before the virus.
Ram stepped inside his room. I tought I shut the door... He really couldn't remember if he had or not. The rush he was in earlier blurred everything together. He set his laptop down on the desk, plugged in the proper cords, and let it start up. He couldn't believe what a mess he had left his room in this morning. He picked up a few clothes from the floor and shut his dresser drawer. He had even forgot to make his bed, he remembered. Ram turned away from

[_java_]

The ropes were digging into her wrists, and the basement was dark and cold and empty... except for her loyal subjects. Java couldn't hear them, though, couldn't hear their feet or the tiny clicking sounds they made, and it troubled her. If something had happened to them, it was certainly her fault; she was their Queen, after all, and it was her sworn duty to protect them. Responsibilities cannot be ignored, she thought, concerned, her ears straining to catch even one tiny sign that her subjects were still alive. There was nothing. Java looked around, wide-eyed behind her blindfold; Line would kill her if something had happened to them, would inject her with something to make her insides boil and her fingers talk to themselves. And then she heard them: Quiet, constant clicking sounds, coming from thousands of tiny beetles all around her, approaching her. My subjects, she thought with a small smile, as she heard the beetles approach. Mega would be so proud of her for keeping them healthy. The beetles got closer. They love me,

[virtual_ram]

Ram turned around in his chair and smiled. "You're up!" He shut his laptop and went over to the bed. "You had me really worried," He said sitting down next to her. "I wasn't sure if ...if you were ever going to comeback." Ram reached out and brushed a braid out of her face with his fingers. The last week seemed so long. Endless sulking and quiet and now that was finally over. Java was back. He realized how much he had really taken her for granted before she left. He never used to really care if he had mad her upset, because she would always be back. But never a week. He would have to watch himself now. He couldn't dismiss her anymore without a plausable reason. Not that he would want to anymore. He had all the intentions not to let her leave again, ever. He wasn't sure if he could take something like that again.
He pointed at the end table. "I made you some breakfast. You don't have to eat it if you're not hungry or if you don't want to." Ram looked down at his feet. "I really missed you, Javie."

[_java_]

Java watched in disbelief as Ram turned and gave her a smile, then got up and walked over to the bed. She still wasn't used to seeing him walk; he looked so strong and happy and healthy... She felt the mattress sink beneath his weight, then his hand, his -bare hand-, against her face, brushing back her hair with a lover's touch, and Java's eyes began to fill with tears. "Ram..."

He offered her breakfast, and Java's smile quivered; he was acting as if he was truly glad to see her, as if the other woman-- the other women-- had never existed, as if it was just the two of them, as it should have been, and as she watched his emotions play on his features, Java felt her heart melt. You fell from Grace because of my weakness, she thought, as he looked away. I left you to die, and yet you still... She watched his gaze fall to his feet, and then he spoke again, giving her the words she'd never expected to hear from him, and she was lost: "I really missed you, Javie." There was a raw sincerity in his voice, a gentle humility as he

[_java_]

Java nodded slightly, her gaze falling to the floor. No idea where we're at... She thought about the blue chemical Mega had had her injected with, and imagined it running through her veins, making her completely trackable, a tagged animal. And if I'm not back by morning... Her stomach twisted slightly, the anger in her fading into a sick, nagging sense of fear. They'd picked her up just outside, she remembered... Oh, I think they might have some idea where we're at.

Java looked back to Ram for just a moment, but the tense look on his face was more than enough to direct her gaze immediately back down to her hands. She'd snapped at him, she realized, though she hadn't meant to, and now, if he was anything like the man he had once been, he was probably angry with her. I'm useless, a failure, worthless, stupid... It was so hard to keep her emotions in order now, so hard to keep her head squarely on her shoulders, and that chipper voice was beginning to repeat phrases in her head again... Java watched her fingertips tap against

[virtual_ram]

Ram put his arm around her shoulders. "Javie..." He stopped. He didn't know quite what to say. All he wanted was for her not to be angry with him again. He had to ruin it. He truly appreciated her concern, even if it did come out in the form of harsh words. Words like the one's his mother had used when he had done something disobedient. Like shaving the dog because you thought he needed a haircut. He recalled.
"I..." he attempted again. "I just couldn't stand you being away for so long." He paused and thought shortly. "I needed you to be back where you belong: here, with me. I'm sorry if I've done something wrong. I'm so sorry." He appologized.
He didn't deserve Java. He didn't deserve anyone. He was horrible. She'll probably change her mind about moving in and move far away.
"But yeah...I better send those emails." he answered lowly. He gave her a quick kiss on the temple as he retracted his arm from her shoulers. He got up from the bed in silence and went over to his laptop.

[_java_]

Java looked up as Ram got up from the bed, watching his back with a thoughtful smile as he returned to his laptop. His words had gone a long way towards making her feel better, but they were no longer the focus of Java's attention; her fears had suddenly pushed aside by something much, much more interesting. Java's hand rose to her temple, her fingertips lingering on the place he'd kissed. It had only been a quick, thoughtless gesture, she knew, but she had never had the luxury of taking such things for granted; after several years of marriage, the feeling of her husband's kiss was not something with which Java was familiar. Furthermore, the timing of the act itself was interesting; this was the second time in five minutes that Ram had tried to kiss her in some form (which, given their track record, was absolutely unheard of), and this time, he'd kissed her as an afterthought; it was as if he'd simply forgotten that he wasn't supposed to do such things... Her fingers slowly lowered from her temple, the lingering sensation of his

[virtual_ram]

Ram sat down at his laptop and began typing.