Desperado ┃ Rory x Ram

Chapter I ┃Pen Stains and Paper Cuts

Don't demote me, please Rory

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He felt as if he had been staring at those numbers for hours now. 39, 43.

43 kills, how the hell did this guy have 43 kills? It had been a month and Ram thought he was doing well, too well actually but no, he was in second.

"Bullshit!" He shouted, pounding his fist against the bulletin board. He could feel stares piercing his back like daggers as he stared at the canvas holding the Top Kills This Month sheet. He drew his hand from the board and stood, forehead against the wall. He was tired and out of energy. Time seemed to be going by much slower than usual, he hadn't done anything today, nothing but receive case files for cases he would probably complete weeks, even months from now. 

"Uh, sir?" Ram felt a soft tap on his shoulder, He sighed, slightly hit his head against the wall, and turned to face the newcomer, messaging his temples.

The newcomer, the receptionist of this "paper company" held out a cream-colored case file, her delicate hands gripping the corners tight. He reached his hand and took grasp of the file, her grip, however, remained and she leaned forward, mouth aligned with his ear as she whispered, "be careful with this one, no one else has had the nerve to kill him, the boss thought you'd be the right choice." She leaned back, letting go of the case file and waving a quick goodbye before scurrying off to her office.

Ram slowly walked back to his desk, grip tightening on the case file in his hand as he thought back to the numbers plastered on the board, 39, 39, 39. The number circled his head, everything else, even this seemingly important case seemed irrelevant.

He dropped down in his chair, leaning back, tangling his hands in his hair, and groaning, God, he just wanted it to be over. Sitting up, he opened the cream case file in front of him, The case file contained information on a flower shop owner who also appeared to have hacked into government systems and had found information about government plans he wasn't supposed to.

"Jaxxon," he repeated under his breath, he leaned forward and whispered into the photo as if he could hear him from his little flower shop, the man looked so innocent, why could no one kill him? whatever. "good luck, cause you've got a few more months to live my friend."

And he meant it, he really couldn't care less about this case. He'd deal with it later. Ram shoved the case file in his bag and arose from his cluttered desk, exiting the building, ignoring the bustling conversations around him. 

Ram swung the door of his car open and stepped in, sinking into the seat and hitting his head against the steering wheel causing the horn to go off, echoing through the parking lot. From the corner of his eye, he spotted people giving him dirty looks through the passenger window. Why all of a sudden did he hate his job? Did a stupid kill count seriously just ruin his job? It never had before, but yet again the numbers had never been this close before. 

No, he was just annoyed. It had been the same for 5 years but, since he got married his whole life felt like a lie. He had to keep secrets from his husband that he didn't want to keep and now it seems as if they don't get along anymore. He's barely home and even when he is, he's too tired to function at all. They barely talk and when they do, it seems like they're talking as strangers, not lovers.

He put the key into the ignition and drove home, the moonlight casting a gloomy shadow upon the rows of identical business buildings and convenient stores. All Ram could think about was how much he wanted to try again with him, no more lies, no more secrets. It was perfect, too perfect but it wasn't real.