Guardian (RamKing)

Chapter Fifteen

Ram sighed as he stepped out of the lecture hall. This lecturer could somehow even make interesting topics sound painfully dull. Every time Ram would have this lecture, he would expend most of his energy on just trying to stay awake. In fact, it usually made him so sleepy that afterwards he would go take a nap in the library and King would come wake him once King's practical group session was over.

When a yawn escaped him, Ram decided to nap that day, texting King to let him know where he would be. Then he headed to the library to find a spot at the back where he wouldn't be easily seen. Ram wasn't the only walking in that direction. As soon as Ram strode off, a young man stood from where he had been sitting, waiting, and followed him. Unfortunately, Ram did not notice the man trailing him, remaining blissfully unaware as he smiled at King's reply to his text.

"King, can you come check this?" Bohn called him over to look at another part of their project.

King shook himself out of his wandering thoughts and checked the time on the clock on the wall before wandering over to Bohn. 10 more minutes then he could go find Ram. His boyfriend had this habit of sleeping in the library, which King found a little irresponsible but mainly really cute. Ram was just adorable when he slept. King was pretty sure he was one of the only people who thought Ram was cute, Ram being a muscular, tattooed boxer after all, but that suited King just fine. Ram was his.

"What you thinkin' about?" Bohn whispered, making King jump as he hadn't noticed Bohn get so close.

"Nothing."

"Mmm. It's Ram, isn't it?"

A note of teasing could clearly be heard in Bohn's voice. King ignored the question from his annoying best friend. Bohn was lucky King had forgiven him for outing King and Ram, and then literally running away from the problem he created. Their friendship had been a little tense for a few days, but King had accepted Bohn's drunken apology at Mek's birthday outing. Now, it seemed that Bohn was back to being his normal, goofy self.

"Are you two doing okay?"

King snapped his gaze up from their project to look at Bohn. Why was he suddenly seeming serious?

"We're great."

"Great, huh? Well, I hope you guys are being safe."

"What?!" King exclaimed, dropping the part in his hands, causing some other students to look at them.

King knew he was bright red; he could tell from how hot his face felt. He couldn't believe Bohn had said that, especially in a workshop full of students, and apparently, he wasn't done.

"Well, I want you to stay healthy, so when you two are having s-"

King slapped a hand over Bohn's mouth to stop him from saying anything more.

"Please, dear God, stop," King half-begged, half-prayed, before removing his hand.

"It is very important, you know," Bohn began again.

"No!" King wailed when his friend started to continue.

Luckily, at that time, the bell rang, indicating that the session was over. King grabbed his stuff quickly and was the first one out the door, leaving Bohn far behind.

King was out of breath when he reached the library. He had nearly run the whole way, a little worried that Bohn would give chase and continue to lecture him. Once King stopped panting and his heart rate had returned to normal, he headed to the back where he knew Ram would be. When he turned the last corner, he saw Ram. And Matt.

Matt was sitting on top of Ram, holding Ram's hands in his. The two were oblivious to King's arrival, staring deeply into each other's eyes.

Jealousy rose its ugly head, making King tremble. The scene in front of him was making him feel sick to his stomach, but he couldn't tear his eyes away. How could Ram do this to him? The answer was simple: Ram couldn't.

So, King stopped himself from walking away and took a deep, shaking breath before managing to croak out, "Ram."

Ram immediately looked towards the voice, towards King, meeting his eyes. The expression on his face when he saw King could only be described as one thing: relief. In that moment of eye-contact, King understood what had happened, his jealousy morphing into mind-melting rage. Clearly, Matt was taking advantage of the fact that Ram froze with fear whenever Matt was around. Ram didn't want Matt anywhere near him, it was just that he couldn't move.

King finally understood what people meant by the phrase 'seeing red.' One second, he was staring into Ram's eyes and the next he was yanking Matt off Ram by his hair. Matt yelped, but King refused to let go.

"If you come near my boyfriend again, I will kill you," King stated slowly, seething, each word carefully and clearly formed.

Ram was surprised seeing King so savage, but even more surprised at how attracted he was to the powerful possessiveness of his boyfriend's actions. At first, he had been so happy to see King, hoping that his boyfriend wouldn't misconstrue the situation and would instead rescue him from Matt again. And he had. Now, Ram just wished they were home alone. It felt a little weird that his fear had completely disappeared, seemingly replaced by a need for King, but Ram was glad. He didn't want to be scared of Matt.

When Matt managed to rip out of King's grip, Ram leapt up immediately, not scared for himself, but for King. Matt was a boxer, a good one. Seeing the guy form a fist, Ram slid in front of King to take the hit. He was not going to let this jerk hurt his lovely King. Ram wasn't sure how skilled a boxer Matt was anymore. When they were dating, Matt had been better than Ram, but that was a few years ago now.

The punch nearly knocked the wind out of him. Apparently, Matt was still pretty good. Unfortunately for him, Ram had improved greatly; he had never wanted to let anyone hurt him again. Right then, Ram had no fear left in him, only anger. The man in front of him had harmed him, first years ago and now he had come back to ruin his relationship and was trying to hurt his boyfriend. His King was in danger. The memories that always overwhelmed Ram in Matt's presence, filling him with fear, retreated, allowing his mind to clear. Then with incredible focus, Ram moved into a combo of punches, each one accurately slamming into parts of Matt's body where it would hurt the most, the force and pain sending Matt to the floor.

Ram fluidly moved to kneel next to Matt's curled up and groaning form, then grabbed the man's chin, forcing him to look at Ram.

"We're over. We have been for years. I don't want to see you ever again," Ram hissed, before pausing to give King a smile, then turning back to Matt, "If you come near my boyfriend again, I will kill you."

Then Ram strode off, tugging King away with him. Once they were safely outside, Ram hugged his boyfriend, tight.

"Are you okay?" They asked in each other in unison, causing them both to laugh.

Their laughter lasted a while. It seemed that they still had excess energy from their intense emotions that was making them jittery.

Ram was the first one to calm down and whispered, "Thank you, my King."

"For what?"

"For so many things, but today? Today, I want to thank you for saving me. And for trusting me. I would never betray you; you can always trust me."

"I know. Always," King paused to peck Ram's lips then, "And you can trust me."

"Always."