Musician- Classically trained contralto | Fic writer- author of The Drive, How To Kill A Poet, Too Much Mugwort, Shahadat, Finding Spock, Silences and Insanities, and other stories | Fandoms: Salaar, RRR, Star Trek, Baahubali | Bi, Spiritual, Desi
1. Shahadat - Shahadat. To Witness. Shahadat. Martyrdom. Why is a mother helpless in the face of both. (Akhtar's ammi's POV during Komuram Bheemudo) (1,077 words)
2. A Matter Of Mercy - Bheem actually managed to run away with Malli on the day of his hanging. But he is only human. Who healed him just enough to give him another chance at freedom? A missing scene between guilt-ridden Ram and unconscious Bheem in the aftermath of the flogging. (1,813 words)
3. An Afternoon In London - What became of Jenny and Bheem eventually? What became of their great love? A story set in 1982. (3,478 words)
4. Too Much Mugwort - Ram and Bheem have a quiet moment after the dust settles, in the aftermath of their fight against Scott's forces. Bheem is consumed with guilt over Ram's condition after his imprisonment. He intends to make amends. And the first thing on his mind is getting some food into his dear friend. (3,180 words)
5. A Pattern Cast Twice - Can Jenny learn to love again? Will the memory of Bheem chase her like a ghost for the rest of her life? A companion piece to my story An Afternoon In London. (1,944 words)
6. A Different Kind Of Love - What if Bheem is unable to save Ram? What becomes of him? Of Ram's promise to bring guns to his village? And most importantly, What becomes of Seetha? (5,516 words)
7. Testimony - Poetry speaks where prose falls short of words. My small tribute to the countless heroes of the revolution who made untold sacrifices to bring an end to the colonial occupation of my country. (97 words)
8. The Date From Hell - Bheem was very lucky that Ram agreed to come with him to the party at the Gymkhana Club. However, what would have happened had he gone there alone? (4,626 words)
9. The Road To My Home - Ram's thoughts and yearning to someday return to his home. But Home is not such a simple concept for a living martyr like him. (182 words)
10. Parallel Lines - The love between Bheem and Jenny may have begun with simple human attraction and appreciation of each other's kindness and gentleness. However, something fundamentally changed after Bheem's flogging. To him, she would forever be a goddess that he wouldn't bring down to his level where only suffering and injustice exist. To her, he is no less than the God that suffers and dies for the sins of those who call him their savior and redeemer. (309 words)
11. A Son Called Akhtar - Bheem found a beautiful family in Delhi who took him in as their own and loved him with all their heart. How did he become so important to them? How did Komaram Bheem, a child of the Gond tribe, become Akhtar, the cherished son of a Muslim family in Delhi? (5,225 words)
12. A Ballad Of Few Words - A poem about the revolutionary ideals and stories of Komaram Bheem and Alluri Seetha Rama Raju. And of course, their epic friendship as imagined by the movie. (174 words)
13. Twelve Hours - Written for the prompt Bheem/Jenny X Rain (Bheem and Jenny spend some time together in Hyderabad while he is there for some errands) (3,009 words)
14. I Will Bring You Home (Work in Progress)- Bheem may have suffered a setback with his arrest and his flogging. But he is not one to give up. He will get Malli home. However, the process of going home is long. The road to home is dangerous. The risk of failure is great. A story in which Bheem pushes the limits of human endurance to bring Malli home. Along the way, he becomes her emotional rock, her teacher, and a storyteller. Along the way, he saves Ram and exorcizes his demons. Along the way, he gives so much of himself that one day, his reserves of strength finally run out. (9,367+ words)
15. The Friend (Work in Progress)- Lacchu's injuries, while less severe than Bheem's, end up getting infected. And because they are on the run, they are unable to save him. Bheem is unaware that the man who tortured and hurt Lacchu is Ram himself. When Bheem reveals that he feels broken because Lacchu died on his watch, Ram admits that he was the one responsible for Lacchu's death. Bheem feels no anger for what Ram did to him. But the thought of what happened to Lacchu is too much for him. Can he forgive Ram? Can their friendship survive the bitterness of this truth? (9,589+ words)
16. The Promise Of Eternity - Jenny and Bheem live together in Adilabad. Bheem does everything in his power to keep Jenny happy. Why, then, won't he allow her to do the same for him? (3,894 words)
17. How To Kill A Poet - Bheem may not know the English language. But that does not stop him from being a poet. What fate do poets meet in a world not built for them? Or Ram takes Bheem to the house of a courtesan. (6,683 words)
18. The Scholar - What if Ram decided to not give Bheem a chance to run away? What if Malli was actually forced to witness the execution of her anna? Would she still find her way home? A story in which Malli struggles with loss and living in the absence of Bheem's protective aura. And Ram cannot run from the consequences of his actions forever. (7,536 words)
19. Tales Of The Tigerrr Celebrrration Fic in collaboration with @stars-in-the-distance - In April and May 2023 we held an event on Tumblr and challenged creators to create many new artworks, fanfics, poetry and other works celebrating Bheem. To thank all the creators, we have written a celebratory fic with references (and links) to ALL the created works. It's a romantic fic about Bheem growing old and looking back on his life and remembering all the good and bad memories that have been part of it (Part 1). An alternate universe in which everything turned out alright. Since Bheem is shipped with either Jenny or Ram, the fic has two different endings (Part 2). A big thank you to all the creators, this one is for you! (10,551 words)
20. Sanctuary - Bheem and Jenny finally get to enjoy their relationship. Having dealt with so many ups and downs, it is only fair that they get a chance to experience the beauty and blessings of life as well. There is one last remaining obstacle in their path. In this story, they will overcome that as well. But like all things in their lives, it won't be without its own unique challenges. Warning- The second chapter deals with Bheem's time in police custody, between his arrest and the flogging. That section is heavy and angsty. Approach with caution. But, the ending of the fic is happy. Not bittersweet like my usual. It is happy! (13, 823 words)
Tumblr-Only Works
21. On Treachery - Bheem's POV on Ram's betrayal. A poem.
22. Some Days - Ram and his relationship with Delhi. For the prompt Ram X Rain.
23. The Toy - Catherine Buxton's thoughts on a variety of things including Bheem and a prized possession that she is proud of. For the prompt Catherine Buxton X Toy.
24. Saccharine - Jenny's mettle as she settles into her new life in Bheem's village. Written for the prompt Bheem/Jenny X Saccharine.
25. Fire and Water (Moodboard + ficlet)- Prompt: Don't tell me about how a fire met another fire. Tell me about how a fire met the water and how they didn't end up destroying each other.
26. A Song Of Seetha - Love as devotion when time carries nothing but the message of its own passing. A poem. For the prompt Ram/Seetha X Rain.
baba has watched both brothers grow into the people they are today – and a part of him is definitely fonder of varadha, acting more as a stand-in-parent than advisor, especially after rajamannar basically disowned varadha.
while varadha as a child was level-headed, receptive, and handled most situations with wisdom and patience beyond his years, baachi must have been very different: more demanding and idealistic, especially with how sheltered he was by varadha.
and even though baba cared for baachi, he rarely had the patience to deal with the younger mannar sibling, helping out where possible, but not forming as close of a bond with him as what he had with varadha.
we see it when baachi yells at baba, not showing any regret for the disrespect, even when varadha reacts warningly.
baachi thinks of baba as family, clearly comfortable in his presence, but it seems like he doesn't receive parental love in particular from baba, and might even feel like baba is more on varadha's side than his.
Place of Birth: Where did your character first see the world? Think about the impact of this place—was it a busy city where they had to fight for attention or a quiet village where everyone knew everyone’s business? This location doesn’t just say where they’re from; it shapes how they see the world.
Family and Upbringing: What was their family like? Were their parents loving or distant? Maybe they were raised by someone other than their parents—a mentor, an older sibling, or even alone. Family (or the lack of it) is usually one of the most significant factors in shaping who someone becomes.
Society’s Expectations: What was expected of them when they were young? Possibly, they were born into wealth, with all the pressure to continue the family legacy, or maybe they were raised to be invisible in a world where survival mattered. How does this influence who they are now? Do they accept or reject those expectations?
2. Childhood Events That Left a Mark
First Taste of Conflict: Think about the first time the character realized the world wasn’t a perfect place. Maybe they witnessed violence or faced betrayal. What was that moment, and how did it stick with them? This moment usually lays the foundation for the character’s emotional landscape—fear, hope, ambition, or distrust all come from these early life lessons.
Childhood Dreams: When they were young, what did they want to be? Every child has dreams—did they want to be a knight, a scholar, or even just someone who could travel the world? Did they have to give up these dreams? How does that lost dream shape them now?
Formative Relationships: Who was their first best friend, mentor, or enemy? Childhood friendships and relationships often create deep bonds or wounds that last into adulthood. Did they have a mentor who taught them everything, only to betray them? Did they lose a childhood friend that still haunts them?
3. The Teen Years: Where They Start to Become Who They Are
Trials and Tribulations: What’s the biggest challenge they faced as they grew up? Was it losing a loved one, failing at something important, or maybe being forced into a role they didn’t want? These teenage years are where the emotional armor starts forming—how did the difficulties they faced shape them into the person they are now?
Education or Training: How did they learn what they know? Were they formally trained by an institution, learning everything by the book, or did they learn through experience, like a street-smart survivalist? What impact does their education or lack of it have on how they interact with others?
Teenage Bonds: Did they have a first love or a first major falling out with someone close to them? These experiences often create emotional scars or connections that they carry with them into adulthood. How does that past friendship or romance influence their behavior now?
4. Key Life Events: The Big Moments That Define Them
Trauma or Loss: Was there a moment that changed everything? Think about a significant loss—maybe a loved one, their home, or a sense of identity. How does this event affect their worldview? Do they build walls around themselves or dive into relationships with reckless abandon because they fear losing more?
Victory or Failure: Did they experience a moment of triumph or devastating defeat? Success and failure leave their marks. Were they celebrated as a hero once, leading them to overconfidence, or did they fail when everyone was counting on them, leading to crippling self-doubt?
Betrayal: Was there a betrayal that shaped their adult relationships? Whether it is a friend, family member, or lover, betrayal often changes how we trust others. Do they close themselves off, constantly expecting betrayal, or try to rebuild trust, afraid of being left alone again.
5. Where They Stand Now: The Present Moment
What Drives Them Today: What’s the one thing pushing them forward now? Is it revenge, the need to restore their family’s honor, or maybe even just survival? Whatever it is, this motivation should tie directly back to their experiences.
Emotional Baggage: What unresolved emotional wounds are they carrying? Everyone has scars from their past—some are visible, others not so much. How do these emotional wounds affect how they treat others, how they react to conflict, and how they move through the world.
Current Relationships: Who’s still in their life from their past, and how do they feel about it? Did they reconnect with someone they thought they’d lost, or are they haunted by unresolved issues with people from their past? Do they have any ongoing tensions or regrets tied to these people?
6. Tying Themes to Their Backstory
Cultural or Mythological Influence: How does their personal story tie into the larger world’s mythology or culture? Do they carry a family legacy, a curse, or a prophecy that hangs over them? How does this influence their interactions with others and their perception of themselves?
Recurring Symbols: Are there objects, dreams, or people that keep showing up in their life, symbolizing their journey? Perhaps a recurring nightmare haunts them, or they carry an object from their past that’s both a source of comfort and pain
7. Character Arc: The Journey from Past to Present
How Does Their Past Shape Their Growth?: Every character has emotional baggage that needs resolving. How does their backstory drive their arc? Do they need to forgive themselves, let go of the past, or accept who they’ve become to move forward?
Unanswered Questions from the Past: Are there any mysteries in their backstory they need to solve? Maybe they’re unaware of their true parentage, or maybe there’s a forgotten event from their childhood that will resurface and change everything.
Medieval Art & Architecture: Part 1 ⚜ Part 2 ⚜ Some Vocabulary
Mystical Items & Objects ⚜ Talisman
Moon: Part 1 ⚜ Part 2
Seasons: Spring ⚜ Summer
Shapes of Symbols ⚜ Symbolism
Slang: 1930s
Symbolism: Of Colors Part 1 2 ⚜ Of Food ⚜ Of Storms
Topics List ⚜ Write Room Syndrome
Vocabulary
Agrostology ⚜ Architecture ⚜ Art Part 1 2 ⚜ European Renaissance Art ⚜ Fashion ⚜ Gemology ⚜ Geology Part 1 2 ⚜ Greek Art ⚜ Law ⚜ Literature Part 1 2 ⚜ Poetry ⚜ Science
Karna focused back on the world, coming out of his midnight meditation with a sigh. It had been a few days since the drive back to Kasi, a sight that Karna didn’t think he’d ever forget. He hadn’t been able to stop the horror of seeing Mother Ganga all dried up from bleeding out into their shared consciousness, and heard Bujji grow even more worried as Bhairava of all people shed an involuntary tear.
As they drove further into the city, the more angry and afraid Karna got. What had happened to Kasi? He saw a bustling marketplace, but recognized none of the wares. He saw people, but didn’t recognize the fashion. There were signs, but he didn’t recognize the languages other than a food sign in Tamil. And speaking of food, he didn’t see a single appetizing thing on the pictures outside the businesses. Crime, slavery, thievery, all of the sins were clearly visible just from the few minutes they spent driving through Kasi. Karna had retreated into Bhairava, unwilling to see more.
In the days that followed, he resurfaced to explore the world quickly before disappearing again. He would taste the first bite of the shrimp noodles Bhairava ordered, take a few breaths of the polluted air, and get his fortune read by some hack and his fake bird. Although, to be fair, the man could be pulling out the sun card every time because of Karna and not just to impress Bhairava, so maybe not a hack.
Not all of his experiences were unpleasant, however. Somehow he figured out how to use one of the numerous digital interfaces (he gave up and asked Bujji) to locate a book in Sanskrit on the Mahabharata War, as they called it now, to read over the events that happened. The text was mostly accurate, to which Karna was grateful. The text also described his death in detail, which he tried to forget about. He then went outside to hold short discussions with passersby. Karna was used to being ignored anyway, but delighted in the fact that for all of the people who didn’t know who he was, the same number of people didn’t know who Arjuna was, either. We’re both irrelevant losers now, he thought, then sobered as he realized these people didn’t know Krishna either.
He also figured out how to use Bhairava’s mental knowledge, being inside of him. Procedural memory was a beautiful thing. Karna couldn’t go too deep, without Bhairava feeling the intrusion, but he was now able to do basic things such as comprehend the different languages they spoke around here, type on the glowing blue screens, use Bhairava’s flying boots, and wield chopsticks.
He could also choose to view Bhairava’s dreams, lingering on the edge of his reality. Karna often saw a man alternating between treating Bhairava lovingly and cursing him out for a betrayal, stuck in what looked like a jail cell. He saw a scantily clad woman that Bhairava liked to fantasize beating him up in various ways. Karna would retreat from the dreamscape to give him some privacy, but also in guilt, as the woman’s clothes (or lack of them) reminded him of another woman he had seen disrobed.
Aside from a few memories of the Complex (which even Karna had been stunned at seeing, knowing how the people outside were living) and a few scenes made up in Bhairava’s imagination, the last figure was a faceless woman that sounded like Bujji. They bickered in Bhairava’s dreams just as much as they did in real life, but there was an undercurrent of something else as well. He tried to not think about it.
(Karna refused to accept that Bhairava had a thing for Bujji. No. It was an artificial being, for God’s sake.)
And speaking of Bujji, Karna warily glanced around the room as he stretched his limbs. From what little he had researched, aware that the thing was probably looking at his search history, Bujji seemed to be capable of anything. She didn’t have a physical form, but that made it worse as she could be anywhere.
Karna had learned that the hard way the other day when he had flopped onto his mat outside of the residence, wanting some fresh (or as much as he could get here, anyway) air. He had just wanted to be away from Rajan and Bujji for one night so he could gather his wits, just one night.
At that time on the roof there weren’t many people around. Karna let out a breath of relief, then broke down, going through his entire repertoire of Sanskrit swears. It was extremely poor conduct for a member of Duryodhana’s court, but there was the problem. Duryodhana wasn’t here, and Karna had no idea how to get back to him. Aswhatthama was here, but Karna had no idea how to get to him either. He was all alone in an entirely new time. Maybe he could try escaping Bujji? Going on the run?
“Bhairava?” the voice had come from the generator a few feet to the side of him, planted into the roof. Karna yelped in surprise. What the…? “I didn’t know you knew… all those words.”
“How are you even here?” Karna had scrambled to try to piece himself together again.
Bujji paused. “I’m… everywhere, Bhairava. I’m an AI. You know this.” Karna got the impression she was frowning. “Do you want me to.. leave?”
Karna winced. The being sounded hurt. He didn’t want that, actually. “No, Bujji. I am just.. out of sorts right now.”
When no other words came from him, Bujji accepted that. “Ok. I’m watching over you, don’t worry. You won’t get snatched by any of your debtors up here.”
Debtors?? Snatching him up? The night was for resting, these people had no honor if they would attack him at this time. When did the rules of dueling go out of fashion? Maybe the rooftop nap was a bad idea. But Bujji did say she was going to protect him. Watching over you, his mind reminded him, which he tried to ignore. Karna had sighed and dropped into sleep, feeling stupid and lonely and homesick.
But that had proven Bujji could be anywhere. Karna hadn’t figured out her limitations yet, but it wasn’t like he could just look it up on the servers that she was also on. For all he knew, she could be watching him right now, judging his midnight meditation. Reading his heartbeat, because yes, that was a thing she was capable of apparently. Then he looked over at Bujji’s car body in the center of the room. Or rather, the lack of a body.
He frowned.
Bujji had said she was going to take the car for a ride a few hours ago, whatever that meant. She still wasn’t back. He got up and wandered over to the table, littered with spare parts and Bhairava’s scribbled notes. Was there a way he could figure out where she was, the same way she could somehow track him? The tools he had near him didn’t make much sense to him.
But maybe Bhairava knew the answers. Karna sighed and gave Bhairava back control.
***
Bhairava blinked. And then cursed. This had been happening too many times lately, waking up in a different place than what he slept to. He would think he developed a sleepwalking problem, but he didn’t think he was falling asleep during the day either, for short minutes at a time. Something else was happening, but he had no idea what.
Bhairava remembered this all started in Shambala, when he woke up with the girl from the labs, and the freshly speared and barbequed corpse of Commander Manas a few feet behind her. Now he woke up in front of his table, feeling well rested and more peaceful than usual.
His table.
Which was currently missing the car in front of it.
“Hey, Bujji?” he tried. “Where’s your body?” There was no response. “Are you mad at me? Giving me the silent treatment again?” Bujji still didn’t answer, and Bhairava tensed. Bujji was never this quiet. If she was upset at him she would let him know, be passive aggressive about it until he figured out what he did wrong. She’d never been offline at any point, connected into all of his systems. If she had a software update she’d leave a note, and Bhairava briefly searched the table for anything he had missed, maybe when he was sleepwalking, but nothing popped up.
Had she.. left him again? Like the time she tried to escape?
“Bujji if you wanted to leave you could’ve just told me,” Bhairava said again, shoulders drooping at the silence. It was true that he stopped Bujji from leaving years ago, but that was before everything they did together. He had hoped they were comfortable enough with each other in their partnership now, comfortable enough that Bujji would trust him not to go after her if she left.
And he would, Bhairava thought to himself. If that’s what Bujji really wanted, even if it would tear him up inside, the loss of his one and only true friend- no one loves you everyone leaves you never change this is what’s needed for this world- he loved her enough to let her go.
Unless… he was feeling sad for no reason and she had been taken instead? Against her will?
Bhairava buried his face in his hands. He didn’t want to freak Bujji out, and make it seem like he just wanted his car back. If she truly wanted to leave on her own, Bhairava wouldn’t go after her. But what if she was hurt? What if someone had taken her?
Bhairava tried to push back the images of Bujji’s body chained up in a garage, some guy splicing through her code and doing who knows what to her mind.
“Arghh!” That’s it, he made up his mind. Bhairava was not a man who thought things through, and Bujji would probably yell at him for it in a few hours, but at least they would be together again.
He would find Bujji. He would make sure she was safe and okay. And if this was what she wanted, he’d leave. If not, he’d beat the shit out of whoever dared to lay a hand on Bujji.
Bhairava walked over to the screen and flipped on the secret tracker that he put onto Bujji’s body years ago. It had been a painstaking process to keep it a secret from Bujji herself, but it had been necessary when they were still learning to trust each other. As the years had gone by Bhairava resolved to ignore it, vowing to never use it, but these were exceptional circumstances.
Sorry Bujji, he thought to himself. But I’m coming for you, whether you want me to or not.
When you’re falling in love, it can be such a magical experience, full of little signs that your feelings are growing. You might find yourself blushing whenever that special person is near, your cheeks turning a shade of pink without you even realizing it. It’s as if your body knows something your mind is just starting to understand.
You start seeking eye contact more often, feeling a flutter in your chest whenever your eyes meet. But then, you might shyly look away, overwhelmed by the intensity of the moment. You can't help but smile frequently, often for no apparent reason. It’s not that anything particularly funny is happening, it’s just that thinking about this person makes you so incredibly happy.
Physical contact becomes something you crave, even in the smallest forms. You might find yourself lightly touching their arm or shoulder as you talk, just to feel closer. When they’re around, you might catch yourself constantly playing with your hair, a subconscious way of dealing with the nervous excitement you feel in their presence.
Humor takes on a whole new importance. Suddenly, you’re laughing at all their jokes, even the ones that aren’t particularly funny. It’s not really about the joke itself but more about the joy of sharing that moment together. Your brain might even go into overdrive, causing you to stammer or struggle to find the right words when you speak to them, as if your thoughts can’t quite keep up with your emotions.
You find yourself coming up with excuses to be near them, finding reasons to cross paths or spend time together. When you’re around them, it’s like your stomach is filled with butterflies, fluttering with nervous excitement. Your heart races whenever they’re close, beating so fast you’re sure it’s obvious to everyone around.
When they’re not around, your mind drifts off, daydreaming about them, replaying past conversations, and imagining future ones. You get lost in their eyes, feeling like you could stare into them forever. There’s this strong urge to share everything with them, from the big moments to the little ones, as if they’re the only person who truly understands.
You might catch yourself absentmindedly writing their name, doodling it in the margins of notebooks or in the air with your finger, as if it’s become your new favorite word. And when you think about them, you’re filled with a warm, fuzzy feeling, like your heart is wrapped in a cozy blanket of happiness. It’s these little moments and feelings that make falling in love such a beautiful, confusing, and exhilarating experience.
I bring a sort of "it's wrong to hate people based on how or where they were born" vibe to political discourse that apparently right wingers and left wingers both don't really like
The fact that Bheem literally asks Ram to be his date to a Valentine’s day party and I still have to deal with people who deny the queer subtext in this movie asskkdjdkksksksk PAIN AND MISERY
No citizens of any country are somehow inherently bad or evil because of their government. Full stop. That includes Russia citizens, Israeli citizens, Palestinian citizens, Chinese citizens, Iranian citizens, North Korean citizens, etc.
Everyone in this world is just living their lives, each with their own complex needs and desires and interests and emotions. They all have hobbies and friends and families and favorite foods. They all have their own motivations and varying political opinions and views on their governments. They all weigh the risks of standing out or speaking up and they all make their own decisions about that.
They all fear the same in times of danger. They all feel grief and pain and terror the same. They all love and hate and bleed the same.
They are people. They are no different from anyone else, they are not monsters or caricatures or nameless bodies in videos. Complexity and humanity are not exclusive to your country, to people like you.
ᴄᴏɴᴛᴀɪɴs : Being heavily based on b&b series, bhairava is CHAOTIC, he is also adorable but still a dumbass, violence, theft, futuristic world, angst, betrayal.
sᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ : 𝐈𝐍 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐂𝐇 this is about a emotions that went extinct a long long back.
ᴍᴀsᴛᴇʀʟɪsᴛ
A/n : I have no idea why I am doing this but this is a prelude to the inevitable kalki 2898ad fic I will end up writing.
__________________
Bhairava was many things, he was a certified opportunist, a smart-ass and a very bubbly guy. This was the level of his self awareness as he says, he also was a lazy man when it was not about him or the units.
But honestly speaking, wasn't everyone around him the same?
In the year 2898 the concept of helping others or comrades or friendships was dead. Personally speaking he thought humanity itself was dead but people around him usually refrained from saying that so he didn't bother either.
Not like him saying that out loud would change anything for anyone, why even care?
He had enough business of his own to keep himself busy that he had neither the need nor the time to poke his nose in other's business.
Being a bounty hunter however always had him stepping in someone else's business, that was not his client.
Right now was a good example, he was chasing a man across the roofs of houses, if you would call them that anymore. The man did something to get a 1000u bounty on his head. Bhairava didn't remember what it was, he was only interested in the units.
Anyways, coming to his point of landing in someone else's business came from the gun that the man was fleeing, it was antique. 800+ years old. Very probably the reason he was asked to hunt him
He really did not like the professional thieves, yes being a thief was a profession, he heard it was a crime once upon a time. Way to evolve.
Whatever, he didn't like the stealers, it has made his jobs messier than they already were and it straight out irritated him to no end.
His point is proven right again when someone slams him from his right side, just when he has managed to grab the robs of the man he was pursuing. It surprised him while the person who caused all this used his shoulders as leverage to perform a flip over his head and grab the antique gun as they landed on the other side.
Taking the weight of a grown human wasn't easy, which explained him losing his balance and the grip he had on his prey leading the man to flee easily. He cured in all the languages he knew before turning his head and pinpointing the thief that ruined his hunt.
The person was running from two more people, great this was a bloody competition now, but he was Bhairava and what was he if not pretty enough for revenge.
Knowing the place since his birth was his strong suit which gives him the advantage to catch up to the person within ten minutes. He waited for a second, letting the second runner catch up with them as they approached a long leap between the two roofs.
It was a tough jump, enough that even after crossing it several times a simple underpowered start had him coming down before he properly had the roof surface under his feet.
But he was as stubborn as they got, managing to grab the leg of the person he was tailing, making them fall too. He climbs up the surface easily, smirking as he notices the other thieves in the race grabbing the antique parcel and rushing away.
Looking down at this hunted prey however made him suck in a deep breath, his lazy posture to a straight one. The hunted prey was a female.
The hood of her jacket had fallen off revealing a wild mop of jet black hair flying in the dry wind, the woman turned her face to him with an aggressive jerk, a pair of brown eyes glaring at him as she stood up.
If looks could kill he wouldn't be breathing right now.
She was dressed rather simply so to speak, a grey shirt knotted in the front, a pair of combat pants and a jacket with the hood. The choker pooling around her neck was probably the mask she used. Her arm band was one of the most advanced one he has seen but the jets attached to her boots were pretty below average.
“You absolute asshole!!!”
The yell brings his eyes back to meet her gaze, a brow raised in question.
“Excuse me? Who are you calling an asshole?”
“Oh so you're missing hearing aids? I'm sorry but I was calling YOU an ASSHOLE because that's WHAT YOU ARE!! You ruined my job!!”
Bhairava grits his teeth as the woman pushes him just a little with every word.
“You're the one who ruined MY JOB!! The man you let slip from my hands had a 10,000u bounty!!”
“That gun would have gotten me at least 15000u you jerk, I'm the one with more loss here!”
She goes to push him again but this time he steps to the side, making her lose balance and fall forward from the edge but he manages to grab her hand last min.
“Say a simple sorry I might pull you up.”
The fall won't kill her but looking at the condition of her jets, if they don't pick up on time she will break a few bones.
“In your dreams…asshole.”
She spat out, kicking his knee making him let go of her as a sharp pain went through his body. He doesn't make an effort to grab the slipping hand from his, choosing to throw a glare towards her instead.
What? She chose these consequences.
He gives his knee a good shake before peering down, his tongue clicking in annoyance to find her hanging mid air from where she has managed to grab a iron bar, what an annoying woman.
“Have a nice time hanging around.”
He gets a middle finger in response which passes him off more and he taps the thrusters with his toes making them buzz to life before kicking one of them, letting the dust fall down purposely.
A satisfied snort leaves his lips when he hears a little coughing and curses before leaving the ground to go over the side alley in time to witness her hand finally slipping from the rod and her crashing through the wooden roof of a shop and landing on small piles of cloth and broken wood.
He shakes his head as she groans from the impact from the fall. That's what she gets from being a jerk, he thinks before leaving the place.
They both do run into each other on another job but he was in no mood to tangle with her again so he chooses to jump over the table in their path while she goes to slide from under it.
Now that was a really weak table because it broke the moment he shifted his weight on his hand, making him lose balance and fall directly on top of her.
“Fucking hell.”
She groaned pushing him off her, he groaned as he stood up to come face to face with a familiar glare.
“You again-”
“You ruined another one of my job-”
“Why are you on the streets to begin with huh!? Aren't you thieves supposed to be stealthy and smooth?”
“Well Mr. know it all sometimes we have moving targets like the one I had but you ruined it all.”
Both glare at each other, even if he towered a good five-six inches above her, either of them refusing to back down at any cost.
“I really hate you too, asshole.”
“The feeling is pretty mutual, wretched jerk.”
The exchange ends with them gritting their teeth and then walking away in different directions.
By his luck, or God's grace if he exists anymore, he doesn't run into her for weeks on end and between that failed bounty, going to junkyard and picking up Buiji, he almost forgets about her.
Almost being the keyword because when he returns from his first round search for the parts of his vehicles and has Rajan tell him a girl was in his room he physically felt his blood pressure rise at least five points.
“How did you find this place- nevermind why the fuck are you here?”
He hisses, entering the room, the female bent over his desk turns around with a bored look.
“You're not that tough to find and I'm here for a job.”
“Oh so now you're gonna steal from me?”
“How can dumb can you be-”
“WHAT!?”
“I was here to steal something I would've not entered through the door. I'm here to pick up a job.” She says rolling her eyes before tapping her arm band and a holographic screen pops up.
His eyes scan the content as fast as he can, it was a 50,000u job, pretty sweet if you ask him. He freezes when he sees his own name in the client column. What the-
“I didn't hire you.”
“Yes you did.”
“No I didn't.”
“Yes you-”
“I did.”
Both of them turn sideways at the third voice, Buiji speaks in a flat voice, her blue reflectors staring back at the bickering duo.
“You hired me?” “You hired her?”
The in sync speech makes both of them throw an equally hot glare at each other.
“She will make the job easier Bhairava for both of us.”
He mumbles something along the lines of only knowing how to ruin things but she makes it a point to ignore it.
“At least one of you has brains, Bhairava.”
The way she spits out his name it was clearly a taunt and it irked him but there was no denying that she would make the job easier by giving him and Buiji more time to focus on technicalities while she gets the part they need.
“Fine do whatever the fuck you want.”
He says with a mocking smile to the A.I. and a middle finger to the professional thief's smug smile before turning and going to tinker with a few things he found.
For a while the other two talk before the female up stairs and jumps out of the giant ass hole in his window, coming from the main door his ass. He walks back to his desk the minutes the female disappears.
“Why did you get her? and don't give me the making job easier bullshit with your perfectionist tantrums there is no way that was the reason.”
“You will see, focus on the vehicle structure for now.”
He huffs at the excuse of a response but chooses to distract himself with the structure of the car. Over the course of the next ten days slowly but surely the required parts come in, everything except for one thing.
A damn controller and the stubborn a.i. was hell bent on finding the perfect one. So it takes them a whole two days to find the perfect match and what the match was.
A robot which was being guarded by at least ten, heavily armed, men clearly appointed by the complex. Way to get things messy.
“I'll get it.”
His head turns to the woman who was laying on his bed, her head hanging off the side and legs kicked up, when did his room become her hangout place?
“But I want 20,000u more.”
She says getting up from the bed, he just turns to her and gives her are you out of your fucking mind look to which she shrugs her shoulders.
“I'll manage without it, I don't have units coming in from somewhere at all times."
“You have 20,000u and we need the controller. It won't work without it.”
He groans, letting his head fall on the desk, if Buiji had more body than that damn annoying head he would have gone for the neck already.
“Just give me the units, I'll get you what you want and then we will never see each other. Ever again.”
Yeah he doesn't believe his luck is as good as that but he gives in after repeated taunts from Buiji. Raising only his hand, he clicks their armbands together with her, making a sobbing sound in counter to her delighted one.
There goes his 10000u.
He glares as she climbs on his bed, with her shoes on and then jumps out of the window, why can't this woman come and leave through the damn door.
Bhairava maintains his nonchalant facade for exactly five minutes before getting up.
“Where do you think you are going?”
“To see what she is doing Buiji, that woman owns every last one of my units. If she fails I want everyone of my units back.”
With that he leaves, taking the artificial intelligence with him. Reaching the statue takes them half an hour and the first sight he witnesses gives him a mini heart attack.
Feet above the ground, she was dangling upside down, the controller in her hand as the guards tried to snatch her. Way to get the job done.
“What an idiot.”
He growls before climbing up, thanks to his usual practice he reaches the height fast, grabbing the collar of one of the guards and pulling him off her. Sending him flying.
Above him, the appointed thief pulls herself upright, kicking one of the men and having him fall down.
“So much for being a professional thief.” Bhairava says, twisting the arm of another man. To which he gets a glare.
“I never asked for your help, asshole.”
She replied, stopping a punch and elbowing the man.
“Stop calling me that like it's my actual name.”
“Then stop being one.”
They bicker until more men arrive.
“Let's get out of here first.”
Buiji speaks smartly, Bhairava taps the jets in his boots, letting go of the bamboo poles. She was supposed to climb down but when the men start shooting, one of the laser shots his boots, rendering them useless for the moment and the gravity pulls him down immediately.
She chooses to jump recklessly, grabbing his hand with one and a bamboo pole with another, keeping them afloat. Now while Bhairava would've snorted the yelp of pain made it die down in his throat.
Looking up he realises the position made her vulnerable to the shots and one of them even hit her shoulder, even if it was partial.
“You dumbass.”
She curses but for the first time he doesn't mind it all and instead he notices how she refused to let her grip loosen on him or the bamboo that held them but not for long.
He looks down, calculating the distance before his eyes set on the men shooting at them and his jaw tightens, eyes narrowing in a glare.
“Let go.”
“What? Have you finally lost whatever little brains you had?”
“Just let go.”
“Fuck it.”
With the curse she loosens her grip, he uses the jet in one of his boots to lightly manipulate the place of his fall and ends up falling on top of one of them.
As the dust around him flies, the men all back stay high on alert before coming out of the brown cloud and grabs his gun, pulling him in. The others suffered the same thing and in ten minutes there was only Bhairava standing as the dust settled.
“Incoming.”
He looks up when Buiji speaks in time to notice her grip slipping. Without a second thought, he uses on of the men fallen on his knees and the one working jet to reach minimum height to catch her and landing back on ground.
“You okay?”
He surprises himself when he asks the question to the female cradled in his arms ever so gently, who looks up into his eyes and he suddenly realises how pretty her eyes were and how long her lashes were and what the fuck Bhairava.
He lets her stand on his own feet once he catches where his train of thoughts was headed. For a moment the two of them stay awkwardly silent before she seems to realise something and raises her arm.
“What? You think I saved because of some good feelings? no I have a payment left.”
Right. How can he forget how people were? He clicked his wrist against her and she grinned, a small smile settling on his lips unknowingly.
“Thanks, I hope you enjoyed my services and see you again.”
She says, taking a small bow before handing him the controller and then walking off. Something in him twists uncomfortably as he sees her walk off, trying to get a look on her wound but he decides to walk back to his home too.
For the rest of the day he busies himself with work but something seems to be eating at him and it was so so so annoying. Damn it why Buiji had to pick her.
It was around 2 am in the night when everything started coming to a full circle.
“Yes. Bhairava 5 stat bounty!!”
Buiji speaks and he slides out from under the car that was slowly coming together, as the a.i. shows him the bounty.
“Mahavidya, professional thief. Wanted by : the complex? Damn. Wanted for : various valuable thefts and a special program.”
The request didn't make sense as to why Buiji sounded like a plan as been successful until well the pick showed up.
The woman was familiar, the same hood, the same mask, the same jacket but most of all he recognized those eyes. Just a few hours ago he realised how beautiful these same eyes were.
“What the hell?” He grumbles, this was the a.i.’s big plan for hiring her? So she has to steal something from the complex and come in their radar and they but a bounty on her head.
“But why help me build his vehicle if it was this easy!?”
He asked, he felt used and he didn't like the feeling one bit.
“Because working in a complex gives you a much better life than simply getting in there. We have everything set up don't tell me you love that woman suddenly?”
He snorts out loud.
“Don't be ridiculous, there is no such thing as love. That is all nothing but talk in legends."
“Then let's go on hunting."
There is a long pause as he looks at the controller lying on the desk.
“Let's go hunting.”
It takes him a day to pinpoint where she was but he finds her, running across the roofs once again, her mask and hood pulled up as she raises against some of her competitors.
Something pains in his chest as he climbs up the building beside him and her way, hiding from her vision.
He decided to not think much and just grabs her as she runs past him, pulling her back. The sudden killing of the moment makes her fall back and he catches her on instinct.
Their gazes come to match again, as they stare at each other before she pushes him to stand up.
“You- Which one of your jobs did I ruin this time for you to drag me away from another one of mine.”
She huffed, turning off the mask, her lower half visible and voice more clear and why does his chest hurt? The words die on his tongue as she taps his feet waiting for them.
“None. You're the job this time.”
Wow Buiji really is cold.
Bhairava doesn't have time to curse at the a.i. on his shoulder before it flashes the same bounty screen for her look at.
“You really are an asshole.”
He thinks he hears betrayal in her voice but the air gets knocked out of him when she kicks him right in the gut. For the first few blows he only defends himself before a punch to his face has him retaliating back and punching her in the gut.
The woman doubles over as he wipes the corner of his mouth free from the blood. He misses a weak hit towards his face but it does send the a.i. flying off his shoulder, he counters it with a kick, pushing her away.
Feelings are bullshit he doesn't have time for, no one in this world had, he will just hand her over and get those one million units.
The woman growls getting back at him by kicking his legs from under him and straddling his waist to bring punch after punch down on him, a few he managed to block but at least three she managed to land on his cheek bone.
Gritting his teeth he grabs her by the neck and slams her down to the floor, hard. He got up, glaring at her as he pants while she groans on the floor.
Standing up he goes to bind her hands with cuffs but she kicks him unexpectedly with quite some force, sending him stumbling back and hitting his head hard on one of the rods kept in the drums.
His vision blurs a little, she makes out her heading for him, pulling out a rod and swinging it hard enough to knock him down.
But before the next hit, he hears her yelp and a number of black figures flying in. He weakly tries to get up but his body gives out and everything goes black.
