Guardian (RamKing)

Chapter Twenty-One

It had been a few days since they had gone to the police station. Matt was charged with assault, several times, and assault with a deadly weapon. His boxer buddies had rolled over on him, confessing that Matt had asked them to beat up Ram's new boyfriend, King, and his friends. They also admitted other times they had attacked people with Matt, including the night they had beaten up Ram. King and Ram and their friends had to stay quite late at the station to provide their witness and victim statements.

According to King's brother-in-law, there was so much evidence against Matt that he wouldn't get out of prison for a long time.

King was missing Ram. They were still spending time together, but it felt like there was a distance between them. Something they weren't saying. He was worried that it was his fault; King still hadn't told Ram about his nephew.

In fact, that day, King hadn't seen Ram at all. It was the weekend, so they didn't see each other on campus and Ram wasn't replying to King's texts. It was starting to make him feel sick, his nerves keeping him on edge. There hadn't been a day since they started dating that they hadn't seen each other.

His phone bleeped with an incoming message and King almost fell of the sofa as he quickly moved to pick it up. A wave of disappointment rushed over him when he saw it wasn't Ram, then immediately felt guilty when he realised it was from his sister.

Sis: "Can you come to the hospital?"

King: "I'll be there soon."

King wanted to ask what was happening, but he was too scared in case something was wrong.

When he arrived at the hospital, King rushed straight to his nephew's room, surprised to see a lot of his family in the hallway. Was it good news or bad news? His pace slowed as King didn't really want to find out. The longer he took to enter the room, the longer King could pretend everything was the same with his nephew. He had half-convinced himself that it was bad news.

"Ram?"

King was stunned to see his boyfriend in the hospital room. How was he here? How did he find out about King's nephew?

Ram just smiled and wrapped an arm around King to pull him further into the room.

"Your boyfriend is amazing, King," King's sister exclaimed, a few tears in her eyes as she squeezed her son's hand.

King's nephew looked a lot better. His eyes were clear, his skin had a healthy glow and, best of all, his lips were pulled into a cheeky grin.

"What..?" King croaked, his voice hoarse as a confusing mix of emotions flooded through him.

"Yeah, he's going to be okay," King's sister whispered, relief on her face as she stared at her son, then glanced up at King, "Ram found a doctor who figured out what it was."

"You did?" King asked, turning to Ram.

Ram nodded, pulling King gently out of the room so that they could talk. Eventually, they found a quiet corner to sit.

"I-wha-how?" King blurted out, not entirely sure what he was asking, but wanting to know what happened.

"You seemed stressed, quiet and kept zoning out. I was worried, so I asked your friends. They didn't know either, but Bohn involved Duen who found out from his cousin Thara, a trainee doctor, that your nephew was in the hospital," Ram murmured, softly stroking King's hair.

"I didn't tell you because I didn't want to burden you."

"Mmm, I know, my King. But you aren't a burden, and neither is your family. So, I contacted an old friend of my mother's who works overseas. He is a doctor with a lot of knowledge about rare diseases and disorders. After seeing your nephew's files, he made a diagnosis and, thankfully, the treatment is pretty simple."

"You saved him."

"No, the doctor saved him. I just asked him for help."

King heard the note of judgement in Ram's voice, but he couldn't be at mad at it. Ram was right. If he had talked to Ram and asked for his help sooner, his nephew wouldn't have been in the hospital this long. King just didn't want to bother anyone and thought he could deal with it alone... Oh. This was literally the plot of his favourite childhood story.

King slapped his forehead to Ram's shock.

"I can't believe I did this," King muttered, rubbing his face with his hands.

"Did what?"

"Do you remember the story about the wise king and the knight he made his guardian?"

"Yes."

Ram smiled at the memory. His King had told him the story to cheer him up. Even though he had been so upset, Ram still thought that night was one of the best he had ever had.

"I was being stupid like the wise king was being when he wanted to solve his own problem alone."

Ram chuckled as King burrowed his head against Ram's chest, groaning. He was clearly annoyed with himself. It was so cute that Ram almost completely forgave him for keeping this secret.

"I'm sorry, Ram, I'm so sorry for being an idiot and worrying you. Thank you so much for helping save my nephew, I don't know what I have done if..."

Ram pulled his King closer for comfort.

"I forgive you, of course. And it's no problem, my King. I will always help you."

King slowly looked up at Ram, moving his hands to cradle Ram's face, causing Ram's heart to start beating quickly. Then he leaned for his signature move, nuzzling Ram's nose with his own before pecking his lips gently.

"Ram, if I'm your King, will you be my guardian?" King breathed against Ram's lips.

Ram's brain short-circuited. Those words felt so deep and meaningful, like King was asking for something more. For something... Forever.

"Yes," Ram whispered before moving that slight distance to reach King's lips, kissing him deeply, pouring all of the love in his heart into his motions.

Ram only stopped when King pushed him pack, panting.

"Can we go home?" King asked, unable to resist placing another quick kiss on Ram's lips.

"Home?"

"I want you to take me to bed, my guardian."

"It would be my pleasure, my King."